diff --git a/vello/src/scene.rs b/vello/src/scene.rs
index 103e9b222..064b75015 100644
--- a/vello/src/scene.rs
+++ b/vello/src/scene.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use vello_encoding::{Encoding, Glyph, GlyphRun, Patch, Transform};
 ///
 /// A Scene stores a sequence of drawing commands, their context, and the
 /// associated resources, which can later be rendered.
-#[derive(Clone, Default)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Scene {
     encoding: Encoding,
     #[cfg(feature = "bump_estimate")]
@@ -33,6 +33,31 @@ pub struct Scene {
 }
 static_assertions::assert_impl_all!(Scene: Send, Sync);
 
+impl Default for Scene {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        let mut scene = Self {
+            encoding: Default::default(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "bump_estimate")]
+            estimator: Default::default(),
+        };
+
+        // FIXME - `Render` panics when given an empty scene
+        // See https://github.com/linebender/vello/issues/291
+        // Until that panic is fixed, this workaround makes it
+        // so scenes are never empty by default.
+        let empty_path = Rect::ZERO;
+        scene.fill(
+            Fill::NonZero,
+            Affine::IDENTITY,
+            Color::TRANSPARENT,
+            None,
+            &empty_path,
+        );
+
+        scene
+    }
+}
+
 impl Scene {
     /// Creates a new scene.
     pub fn new() -> Self {