diff --git a/common/background-image.c b/common/background-image.c
index f3d2551e7..5ede55e33 100644
--- a/common/background-image.c
+++ b/common/background-image.c
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ void render_background_image(cairo_t *cairo, cairo_surface_t *image,
 	double width = cairo_image_surface_get_width(image);
 	double height = cairo_image_surface_get_height(image);
 
+	cairo_save(cairo);
 	switch (mode) {
 	case BACKGROUND_MODE_STRETCH:
 		cairo_scale(cairo,
@@ -116,4 +117,5 @@ void render_background_image(cairo_t *cairo, cairo_surface_t *image,
 		break;
 	}
 	cairo_paint(cairo);
+	cairo_restore(cairo);
 }
diff --git a/swaybg/main.c b/swaybg/main.c
index 5b0d04587..742669ef3 100644
--- a/swaybg/main.c
+++ b/swaybg/main.c
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ static void render_frame(struct swaybg_state *state) {
 		return;
 	}
 	cairo_t *cairo = state->current_buffer->cairo;
+	cairo_save(cairo);
+	cairo_set_operator(cairo, CAIRO_OPERATOR_CLEAR);
+	cairo_paint(cairo);
+	cairo_restore(cairo);
 	if (state->args->mode == BACKGROUND_MODE_SOLID_COLOR) {
 		cairo_set_source_u32(cairo, state->context.color);
 		cairo_paint(cairo);