diff --git a/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.cpp b/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.cpp
index 5d095d2ea3..a618113c46 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/x11/windowed/egl_x11_backend.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ bool X11WindowedEglBackend::createSurfaces()
     if (m_outputs.isEmpty()) {
         return false;
     }
-    setSurface(m_outputs.first()->surface());
     return true;
 }