diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor-private.h b/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
index 6da647188..0176d1078 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ struct _MetaCompScreen
 
   ClutterActor          *stage, *window_group, *overlay_group;
   ClutterActor          *background_actor;
-  ClutterActor		*hidden_group;
   GList                 *windows;
   GHashTable            *windows_by_xid;
   Window                 output;
diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor.c b/src/compositor/compositor.c
index dabe59ec8..3cc6c9c72 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor.c
@@ -590,7 +590,6 @@ meta_compositor_manage_screen (MetaCompositor *compositor,
   info->window_group = meta_window_group_new (screen);
   info->background_actor = meta_background_actor_new_for_screen (screen);
   info->overlay_group = clutter_group_new ();
-  info->hidden_group = clutter_group_new ();
 
   clutter_container_add (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (info->window_group),
                          info->background_actor,
@@ -599,11 +598,8 @@ meta_compositor_manage_screen (MetaCompositor *compositor,
   clutter_container_add (CLUTTER_CONTAINER (info->stage),
                          info->window_group,
                          info->overlay_group,
-			 info->hidden_group,
                          NULL);
 
-  clutter_actor_hide (info->hidden_group);
-
   info->plugin_mgr = meta_plugin_manager_new (screen);
 
   /*