diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.c
index 30a319f60..0c578a7af 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-frame-clock.c
@@ -496,6 +496,7 @@ calculate_next_update_time_us (ClutterFrameClock *frame_clock,
   int64_t min_render_time_allowed_us;
   int64_t max_render_time_allowed_us;
   int64_t next_presentation_time_us;
+  int64_t next_smooth_presentation_time_us;
   int64_t next_update_time_us;
 
   now_us = g_get_monotonic_time ();
@@ -540,7 +541,8 @@ calculate_next_update_time_us (ClutterFrameClock *frame_clock,
    *
    */
   last_presentation_time_us = frame_clock->last_presentation_time_us;
-  next_presentation_time_us = last_presentation_time_us + refresh_interval_us;
+  next_smooth_presentation_time_us = last_presentation_time_us + refresh_interval_us;
+  next_presentation_time_us = next_smooth_presentation_time_us;
 
   /*
    * However, the last presentation could have happened more than a frame ago.
@@ -607,7 +609,7 @@ calculate_next_update_time_us (ClutterFrameClock *frame_clock,
     }
 
   if (frame_clock->last_presentation_flags & CLUTTER_FRAME_INFO_FLAG_VSYNC &&
-      next_presentation_time_us != last_presentation_time_us + refresh_interval_us)
+      next_presentation_time_us != next_smooth_presentation_time_us)
     {
       /* There was an idle period since the last presentation, so there seems
        * be no constantly updating actor. In this case it's best to start