diff --git a/gtk/gtktreeview.c b/gtk/gtktreeview.c
index 7e4fc8a9ab..e38dab0e69 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktreeview.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktreeview.c
@@ -9923,8 +9923,6 @@ _gtk_tree_view_column_start_drag (GtkTreeView       *tree_view,
   gdk_window_show (tree_view->priv->drag_window);
 
   gtk_widget_grab_focus (GTK_WIDGET (tree_view));
-  while (gtk_events_pending ())
-    gtk_main_iteration ();
 
   tree_view->priv->in_column_drag = TRUE;