diff --git a/gdk/gdkwindow.c b/gdk/gdkwindow.c
index 1b49d9ae19..03e325bef9 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkwindow.c
+++ b/gdk/gdkwindow.c
@@ -3843,16 +3843,13 @@ gdk_window_ref_cairo_surface (GdkDrawable *drawable)
       if (!private->cairo_surface)
 	{
 	  int width, height;
-	  GdkDrawable *source;
 
 	  /* It would be nice if we had some cairo support here so we
 	     could set the clip rect on the cairo surface */
 	  width = private->abs_x + private->width;
 	  height = private->abs_y + private->height;
 
-	  source = _gdk_drawable_get_source_drawable (drawable);
-
-	  private->cairo_surface = _gdk_drawable_create_cairo_surface (source, width, height);
+	  private->cairo_surface = _gdk_drawable_create_cairo_surface (drawable, width, height);
 
 	  if (private->cairo_surface)
 	    {