diff --git a/src/st/st-private.c b/src/st/st-private.c
index 4096d15c7..c928e6aa7 100644
--- a/src/st/st-private.c
+++ b/src/st/st-private.c
@@ -460,7 +460,10 @@ _st_create_shadow_pipeline_from_actor (StShadow     *shadow_spec,
       cogl_framebuffer_clear (fb, COGL_BUFFER_BIT_COLOR, &clear_color);
       cogl_framebuffer_translate (fb, -box.x1, -box.y1, 0);
       cogl_framebuffer_orthographic (fb, 0, width, height, 0, 0, 1.0);
+
+      clutter_actor_set_opacity_override (actor, 255);
       clutter_actor_paint (actor);
+      clutter_actor_set_opacity_override (actor, -1);
 
       G_GNUC_BEGIN_IGNORE_DEPRECATIONS;
       cogl_pop_framebuffer ();