diff --git a/include/swaylock/swaylock.h b/include/swaylock/swaylock.h
index 27db67cd3..dae823b82 100644
--- a/include/swaylock/swaylock.h
+++ b/include/swaylock/swaylock.h
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ struct swaylock_state {
 	struct wl_list surfaces;
 	struct wl_list images;
 	struct swaylock_args args;
-	cairo_surface_t *background_image;
 	struct swaylock_password password;
 	struct swaylock_xkb xkb;
 	enum auth_state auth_state;
diff --git a/swaylock/main.c b/swaylock/main.c
index 79c062858..f89f28495 100644
--- a/swaylock/main.c
+++ b/swaylock/main.c
@@ -226,7 +226,6 @@ static void handle_global(void *data, struct wl_registry *registry,
 		surface->output = wl_registry_bind(registry, name,
 				&wl_output_interface, 3);
 		surface->output_global_name = name;
-		surface->image = state->background_image;
 		wl_output_add_listener(surface->output, &_wl_output_listener, surface);
 		wl_list_insert(&state->surfaces, &surface->link);