diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
index 747c9f134b..6bc56f0887 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
@@ -719,14 +719,16 @@ ARDOUR_UI_UTILS::round_robin_palette_color (bool just_peek)
 	std::vector<Gdk::Color>                   c (gc);
 	static std::vector<Gdk::Color>::size_type index = 0;
 
-	if(just_peek) {
-		return c[index];
-	}
+	assert (c.size() > 0);
 
 	if (index >= c.size ()) {
 		index = 0;
 	}
 
+	if(just_peek) {
+		return c[index];
+	}
+
 	return c[index++];
 }