diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
index 6bf97819e0..87983568c5 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/windows/juce_AlertWindow.cpp
@@ -215,6 +215,13 @@ class AlertTextComp  : public TextEditor
 public:
     AlertTextComp (AlertWindow& owner, const String& message, const Font& font)
     {
+        if (owner.isColourSpecified (AlertWindow::textColourId))
+            setColour (TextEditor::textColourId, owner.findColour (AlertWindow::textColourId));
+
+        setColour (TextEditor::backgroundColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
+        setColour (TextEditor::outlineColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
+        setColour (TextEditor::shadowColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
+
         setReadOnly (true);
         setMultiLine (true, true);
         setCaretVisible (false);
@@ -226,13 +233,6 @@ public:
         setText (message, false);
 
         bestWidth = 2 * (int) std::sqrt (font.getHeight() * font.getStringWidth (message));
-
-        if (owner.isColourSpecified (AlertWindow::textColourId))
-            setColour (TextEditor::textColourId, owner.findColour (AlertWindow::textColourId));
-
-        setColour (TextEditor::backgroundColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
-        setColour (TextEditor::outlineColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
-        setColour (TextEditor::shadowColourId, Colours::transparentBlack);
     }
 
     int getPreferredWidth() const noexcept   { return bestWidth; }