diff --git a/gtk/gtkgesture.c b/gtk/gtkgesture.c
index 1e425869b3..f0bb28421a 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkgesture.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkgesture.c
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ gtk_gesture_handle_event (GtkEventController *controller,
            (event_type == GDK_TOUCHPAD_SWIPE && phase == GDK_TOUCHPAD_GESTURE_PHASE_END) ||
            (event_type == GDK_TOUCHPAD_PINCH && phase == GDK_TOUCHPAD_GESTURE_PHASE_END))
     {
-      gboolean was_claimed;
+      gboolean was_claimed = FALSE;
 
       if (_gtk_gesture_update_point (gesture, event, target, x, y, FALSE))
         {
@@ -668,12 +668,12 @@ gtk_gesture_handle_event (GtkEventController *controller,
               _gtk_gesture_check_recognized (gesture, sequence))
             g_signal_emit (gesture, signals[UPDATE], 0, sequence);
 
+          was_claimed =
+            gtk_gesture_get_sequence_state (gesture, sequence) == GTK_EVENT_SEQUENCE_CLAIMED;
+
           _gtk_gesture_remove_point (gesture, event);
         }
 
-      was_claimed =
-        gtk_gesture_get_sequence_state (gesture, sequence) == GTK_EVENT_SEQUENCE_CLAIMED;
-
       return was_claimed && was_recognized;
     }
   else if (event_type == GDK_MOTION_NOTIFY ||