diff --git a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11dyn.c b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11dyn.c
index 299b9fc4e..1ecb7a99f 100644
--- a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11dyn.c
+++ b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11dyn.c
@@ -167,8 +167,10 @@ SDL_X11_LoadSymbols(void)
         X11_GetSym("XCreateIC", &SDL_X11_HAVE_UTF8, (void **) &pXCreateIC);
 #endif
 
-        if (!SDL_X11_HAVE_BASEXLIB) {   /* some required symbol didn't load. */
-            SDL_X11_UnloadSymbols();    /* in case something got loaded... */
+        if (SDL_X11_HAVE_BASEXLIB) {  /* all required symbols loaded. */
+            SDL_ClearError();
+        } else {
+            SDL_X11_UnloadSymbols();  /* in case something got loaded... */
             rc = 0;
         }
     }