diff --git a/src/core/renderbackend.cpp b/src/core/renderbackend.cpp
index 7c71f41cdf..9dc9b6d2f9 100644
--- a/src/core/renderbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/core/renderbackend.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 */
 
 #include "renderbackend.h"
+#include "scene/surfaceitem.h"
 
 #include <drm_fourcc.h>
 
@@ -31,4 +32,19 @@ QHash<uint32_t, QVector<uint64_t>> RenderBackend::supportedFormats() const
     return QHash<uint32_t, QVector<uint64_t>>{{DRM_FORMAT_XRGB8888, QVector<uint64_t>{DRM_FORMAT_MOD_LINEAR}}};
 }
 
+std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> RenderBackend::createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap)
+{
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> RenderBackend::createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap)
+{
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> RenderBackend::createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap)
+{
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/src/core/renderbackend.h b/src/core/renderbackend.h
index 3681b89d51..f018387cb3 100644
--- a/src/core/renderbackend.h
+++ b/src/core/renderbackend.h
@@ -11,12 +11,18 @@
 
 #include <QObject>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace KWin
 {
 
 class Output;
 class OverlayWindow;
 class OutputLayer;
+class SurfacePixmapInternal;
+class SurfacePixmapWayland;
+class SurfacePixmapX11;
+class SurfaceTexture;
 
 /**
  * The RenderBackend class is the base class for all rendering backends.
@@ -37,6 +43,10 @@ public:
     virtual void present(Output *output) = 0;
 
     virtual QHash<uint32_t, QVector<uint64_t>> supportedFormats() const;
+
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap);
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap);
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap);
 };
 
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.cpp b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.cpp
index 9eb7c1c747..fc33d71298 100644
--- a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include <kwineffects.h>
 #include <kwinglutils_funcs.h>
 
-#include "scene/surfaceitem.h"
 #include "utils/common.h"
 #include "workspace.h"
 
@@ -62,21 +61,6 @@ std::shared_ptr<KWin::GLTexture> OpenGLBackend::textureForOutput(Output *output)
     return {};
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> OpenGLBackend::createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> OpenGLBackend::createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> OpenGLBackend::createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
 bool OpenGLBackend::checkGraphicsReset()
 {
     const GLenum status = KWin::glGetGraphicsResetStatus();
diff --git a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.h b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.h
index c74f6f49a6..f6b289eb62 100644
--- a/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.h
+++ b/src/platformsupport/scenes/opengl/openglbackend.h
@@ -18,11 +18,6 @@ namespace KWin
 {
 class Output;
 class OpenGLBackend;
-class SurfaceItem;
-class SurfacePixmapInternal;
-class SurfacePixmapX11;
-class SurfacePixmapWayland;
-class SurfaceTexture;
 class GLTexture;
 
 /**
@@ -51,10 +46,6 @@ public:
     CompositingType compositingType() const override final;
     bool checkGraphicsReset() override final;
 
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap);
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap);
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap);
-
     virtual bool makeCurrent() = 0;
     virtual void doneCurrent() = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/qpainterbackend.h b/src/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/qpainterbackend.h
index 99f0d5e6da..96c5d44b23 100644
--- a/src/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/qpainterbackend.h
+++ b/src/platformsupport/scenes/qpainter/qpainterbackend.h
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@ class QString;
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-class SurfacePixmapInternal;
-class SurfacePixmapWayland;
-class SurfaceTexture;
 class Output;
 
 class KWIN_EXPORT QPainterBackend : public RenderBackend
@@ -34,8 +31,8 @@ public:
 
     CompositingType compositingType() const override final;
 
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap);
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap);
+    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap) override;
 
     /**
      * @brief Whether the creation of the Backend failed.
diff --git a/src/scene/scene.cpp b/src/scene/scene.cpp
index eb11ad4bbd..984824befa 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/scene.cpp
@@ -608,19 +608,4 @@ QVector<QByteArray> Scene::openGLPlatformInterfaceExtensions() const
     return QVector<QByteArray>{};
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> Scene::createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> Scene::createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> Scene::createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap)
-{
-    return nullptr;
-}
-
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/scene/scene.h b/src/scene/scene.h
index 618a5cb43c..edf939d9f2 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene.h
+++ b/src/scene/scene.h
@@ -40,10 +40,6 @@ class Scene;
 class Shadow;
 class ShadowItem;
 class SurfaceItem;
-class SurfacePixmapInternal;
-class SurfacePixmapWayland;
-class SurfacePixmapX11;
-class SurfaceTexture;
 class WindowItem;
 
 class SceneDelegate : public RenderLayerDelegate
@@ -154,10 +150,6 @@ public:
         return {};
     }
 
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap);
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap);
-    virtual std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap);
-
     ItemRenderer *renderer() const;
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
diff --git a/src/scene/scene_opengl.cpp b/src/scene/scene_opengl.cpp
index 9daa0db64a..0cc63678bb 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene_opengl.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/scene_opengl.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "core/output.h"
 #include "decorations/decoratedclient.h"
 #include "scene/itemrenderer_opengl.h"
-#include "scene/surfaceitem.h"
 #include "window.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
@@ -95,21 +94,6 @@ std::shared_ptr<GLTexture> SceneOpenGL::textureForOutput(Output *output) const
     return m_backend->textureForOutput(output);
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> SceneOpenGL::createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap)
-{
-    return m_backend->createSurfaceTextureInternal(pixmap);
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> SceneOpenGL::createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap)
-{
-    return m_backend->createSurfaceTextureWayland(pixmap);
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> SceneOpenGL::createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap)
-{
-    return m_backend->createSurfaceTextureX11(pixmap);
-}
-
 //****************************************
 // SceneOpenGL::Shadow
 //****************************************
diff --git a/src/scene/scene_opengl.h b/src/scene/scene_opengl.h
index c6111c61f6..d0f7547303 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene_opengl.h
+++ b/src/scene/scene_opengl.h
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ public:
     bool supportsNativeFence() const override;
     DecorationRenderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *impl) override;
     bool animationsSupported() const override;
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap) override;
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureX11(SurfacePixmapX11 *pixmap) override;
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap) override;
 
     OpenGLBackend *backend() const
     {
diff --git a/src/scene/scene_qpainter.cpp b/src/scene/scene_qpainter.cpp
index c7b5473c62..51cce283bb 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene_qpainter.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/scene_qpainter.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 // KWin
 #include "decorations/decoratedclient.h"
 #include "scene/itemrenderer_qpainter.h"
-#include "scene/surfaceitem.h"
 #include "window.h"
 
 // Qt
@@ -47,16 +46,6 @@ DecorationRenderer *SceneQPainter::createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::Decorate
     return new SceneQPainterDecorationRenderer(impl);
 }
 
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> SceneQPainter::createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap)
-{
-    return m_backend->createSurfaceTextureInternal(pixmap);
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> SceneQPainter::createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap)
-{
-    return m_backend->createSurfaceTextureWayland(pixmap);
-}
-
 //****************************************
 // QPainterShadow
 //****************************************
diff --git a/src/scene/scene_qpainter.h b/src/scene/scene_qpainter.h
index f7ab1fc0f0..714c564a0a 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene_qpainter.h
+++ b/src/scene/scene_qpainter.h
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ public:
 
     Shadow *createShadow(Window *window) override;
     DecorationRenderer *createDecorationRenderer(Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl *impl) override;
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureInternal(SurfacePixmapInternal *pixmap) override;
-    std::unique_ptr<SurfaceTexture> createSurfaceTextureWayland(SurfacePixmapWayland *pixmap) override;
 
     bool animationsSupported() const override
     {
diff --git a/src/scene/surfaceitem_internal.cpp b/src/scene/surfaceitem_internal.cpp
index f5207d0486..821d4a0e64 100644
--- a/src/scene/surfaceitem_internal.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/surfaceitem_internal.cpp
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 
 #include "scene/surfaceitem_internal.h"
 #include "composite.h"
+#include "core/renderbackend.h"
 #include "deleted.h"
 #include "internalwindow.h"
-#include "scene/scene.h"
 
 #include <QOpenGLFramebufferObject>
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ void SurfaceItemInternal::handleWindowClosed(Window *original, Deleted *deleted)
 }
 
 SurfacePixmapInternal::SurfacePixmapInternal(SurfaceItemInternal *item, QObject *parent)
-    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->scene()->createSurfaceTextureInternal(this), parent)
+    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->backend()->createSurfaceTextureInternal(this), parent)
     , m_item(item)
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp b/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
index 6aa57da0a4..06a2ce8e62 100644
--- a/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/surfaceitem_wayland.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 #include "scene/surfaceitem_wayland.h"
 #include "composite.h"
+#include "core/renderbackend.h"
 #include "deleted.h"
-#include "scene/scene.h"
 #include "wayland/clientbuffer.h"
 #include "wayland/subcompositor_interface.h"
 #include "wayland/surface_interface.h"
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ ContentType SurfaceItemWayland::contentType() const
 }
 
 SurfacePixmapWayland::SurfacePixmapWayland(SurfaceItemWayland *item, QObject *parent)
-    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->scene()->createSurfaceTextureWayland(this), parent)
+    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->backend()->createSurfaceTextureWayland(this), parent)
     , m_item(item)
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/scene/surfaceitem_x11.cpp b/src/scene/surfaceitem_x11.cpp
index b0e5048d0f..07483b95a6 100644
--- a/src/scene/surfaceitem_x11.cpp
+++ b/src/scene/surfaceitem_x11.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 #include "scene/surfaceitem_x11.h"
 #include "composite.h"
+#include "core/renderbackend.h"
 #include "deleted.h"
-#include "scene/scene.h"
 #include "x11syncmanager.h"
 
 namespace KWin
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<SurfacePixmap> SurfaceItemX11::createPixmap()
 }
 
 SurfacePixmapX11::SurfacePixmapX11(SurfaceItemX11 *item, QObject *parent)
-    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->scene()->createSurfaceTextureX11(this), parent)
+    : SurfacePixmap(Compositor::self()->backend()->createSurfaceTextureX11(this), parent)
     , m_item(item)
 {
 }