diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-background-group.c b/src/compositor/meta-background-group.c
index 51d1685fa..1dae14f43 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-background-group.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-background-group.c
@@ -23,42 +23,14 @@
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (MetaBackgroundGroup, meta_background_group, CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR);
 
-struct _MetaBackgroundGroupPrivate
-{
-  gpointer dummy;
-};
-
-static void
-meta_background_group_dispose (GObject *object)
-{
-  G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_background_group_parent_class)->dispose (object);
-}
-
-static gboolean
-meta_background_group_get_paint_volume (ClutterActor       *actor,
-                                        ClutterPaintVolume *volume)
-{
-  return clutter_paint_volume_set_from_allocation (volume, actor);
-}
-
 static void
 meta_background_group_class_init (MetaBackgroundGroupClass *klass)
 {
-  GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
-  ClutterActorClass *actor_class = CLUTTER_ACTOR_CLASS (klass);
-
-  actor_class->get_paint_volume = meta_background_group_get_paint_volume;
-  object_class->dispose = meta_background_group_dispose;
-
-  g_type_class_add_private (klass, sizeof (MetaBackgroundGroupPrivate));
 }
 
 static void
 meta_background_group_init (MetaBackgroundGroup *self)
 {
-  self->priv = G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_PRIVATE (self,
-                                            META_TYPE_BACKGROUND_GROUP,
-                                            MetaBackgroundGroupPrivate);
 }
 
 /**