diff --git a/backend/libinput/tablet_pad.c b/backend/libinput/tablet_pad.c
index b053b9a0..691bb185 100644
--- a/backend/libinput/tablet_pad.c
+++ b/backend/libinput/tablet_pad.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ struct wlr_tablet_pad *create_libinput_tablet_pad(
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Unable to allocate wlr_tablet_pad");
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	wlr_tablet_pad_init(wlr_tablet_pad, NULL);
 
 	wlr_tablet_pad->button_count =
 		libinput_device_tablet_pad_get_num_buttons(libinput_dev);
@@ -83,17 +84,14 @@ struct wlr_tablet_pad *create_libinput_tablet_pad(
 	wlr_tablet_pad->strip_count =
 		libinput_device_tablet_pad_get_num_strips(libinput_dev);
 
-	wlr_list_init(&wlr_tablet_pad->paths);
 	struct udev_device *udev = libinput_device_get_udev_device(libinput_dev);
 	wlr_list_push(&wlr_tablet_pad->paths, strdup(udev_device_get_syspath(udev)));
 
-	wl_list_init(&wlr_tablet_pad->groups);
 	int groups = libinput_device_tablet_pad_get_num_mode_groups(libinput_dev);
 	for (int i = 0; i < groups; ++i) {
 		add_pad_group_from_libinput(wlr_tablet_pad, libinput_dev, i);
 	}
 
-	wlr_tablet_pad_init(wlr_tablet_pad, NULL);
 	return wlr_tablet_pad;
 }
 
diff --git a/types/tablet_v2/wlr_tablet_v2_pad.c b/types/tablet_v2/wlr_tablet_v2_pad.c
index d7cd5e3e..515d1fbb 100644
--- a/types/tablet_v2/wlr_tablet_v2_pad.c
+++ b/types/tablet_v2/wlr_tablet_v2_pad.c
@@ -462,8 +462,10 @@ uint32_t wlr_send_tablet_v2_tablet_pad_enter(
 	uint32_t time = now.tv_nsec / 1000;
 
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < pad->group_count; ++i) {
-		zwp_tablet_pad_group_v2_send_mode_switch(
-			pad_client->groups[i], time, serial, pad->groups[i]);
+		if (pad_client->groups[i]) {
+			zwp_tablet_pad_group_v2_send_mode_switch(
+				pad_client->groups[i], time, serial, pad->groups[i]);
+		}
 	}
 
 	return serial;
diff --git a/types/wlr_tablet_pad.c b/types/wlr_tablet_pad.c
index 71421e72..aa0111fe 100644
--- a/types/wlr_tablet_pad.c
+++ b/types/wlr_tablet_pad.c
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ void wlr_tablet_pad_init(struct wlr_tablet_pad *pad,
 	wl_signal_init(&pad->events.ring);
 	wl_signal_init(&pad->events.strip);
 	wl_signal_init(&pad->events.attach_tablet);
+
+	wl_list_init(&pad->groups);
+	wlr_list_init(&pad->paths);
 }
 
 void wlr_tablet_pad_destroy(struct wlr_tablet_pad *pad) {