diff --git a/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index f2243ea09..7e5abe76f 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -213,8 +213,6 @@ clutter_stage_paint (ClutterActor *self)
   ClutterStagePrivate *priv = CLUTTER_STAGE (self)->priv;
   CoglColor stage_color;
 
-  CLUTTER_SET_PRIVATE_FLAGS (self, CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT);
-
   CLUTTER_NOTE (PAINT, "Initializing stage paint");
 
   cogl_color_set_from_4ub (&stage_color,
@@ -235,8 +233,6 @@ clutter_stage_paint (ClutterActor *self)
   CLUTTER_NOTE (PAINT, "Proxying the paint to the stage implementation");
   clutter_actor_paint (priv->impl);
 
-  CLUTTER_UNSET_PRIVATE_FLAGS (self, CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT);
-
   /* this will take care of painting every child */
   CLUTTER_ACTOR_CLASS (clutter_stage_parent_class)->paint (self);
 }