diff --git a/gdk/macos/gdkmacosdisplay.c b/gdk/macos/gdkmacosdisplay.c
index 657fb57558..8d3aa0224e 100644
--- a/gdk/macos/gdkmacosdisplay.c
+++ b/gdk/macos/gdkmacosdisplay.c
@@ -730,7 +730,8 @@ _gdk_macos_display_open (const char *display_name)
   if (self != NULL)
     return NULL;
 
-  GDK_NOTE (MISC, g_message ("opening display %s", display_name ? display_name : ""));
+  display_name = display_name ? display_name : "";
+  GDK_NOTE (MISC, g_message ("opening display %s", display_name));
 
   /* Make the current process a foreground application, i.e. an app
    * with a user interface, in case we're not running from a .app bundle