diff --git a/lib/squib/card.rb b/lib/squib/card.rb
index b89e3a0..56dfd5a 100644
--- a/lib/squib/card.rb
+++ b/lib/squib/card.rb
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ module Squib
 
     def finish!
       begin
-        @cairo_surface.finish
+        @cairo_surface.finish unless @backend.to_sym == :svg
       rescue Cairo::SurfaceFinishedError
         # do nothin - if it's already finished that's fine
       end