diff --git a/src/st/st-icon.c b/src/st/st-icon.c
index 3fec7e2a2..fac474af9 100644
--- a/src/st/st-icon.c
+++ b/src/st/st-icon.c
@@ -249,11 +249,6 @@ st_icon_paint (ClutterActor *actor)
           clutter_actor_get_allocation_box (priv->icon_texture, &allocation);
           clutter_actor_box_get_size (&allocation, &width, &height);
 
-          allocation.x1 = (width - priv->shadow_width) / 2;
-          allocation.y1 = (height - priv->shadow_height) / 2;
-          allocation.x2 = allocation.x1 + priv->shadow_width;
-          allocation.y2 = allocation.y1 + priv->shadow_height;
-
           _st_paint_shadow_with_opacity (priv->shadow_spec,
                                          priv->shadow_material,
                                          &allocation,
diff --git a/src/st/st-label.c b/src/st/st-label.c
index 4954d4937..9833b8337 100644
--- a/src/st/st-label.c
+++ b/src/st/st-label.c
@@ -218,10 +218,6 @@ st_label_paint (ClutterActor *actor)
       clutter_actor_get_allocation_box (priv->label, &allocation);
       clutter_actor_box_get_size (&allocation, &width, &height);
 
-      allocation.x1 = allocation.y1 = 0;
-      allocation.x2 = width;
-      allocation.y2 = height;
-
       if (priv->text_shadow_material == COGL_INVALID_HANDLE ||
           width != priv->shadow_width ||
           height != priv->shadow_height)
diff --git a/src/st/st-private.c b/src/st/st-private.c
index 793202b78..45e909624 100644
--- a/src/st/st-private.c
+++ b/src/st/st-private.c
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ _st_create_shadow_material_from_actor (StShadow     *shadow_spec,
       cogl_color_set_from_4ub (&clear_color, 0, 0, 0, 0);
       cogl_push_framebuffer (offscreen);
       cogl_clear (&clear_color, COGL_BUFFER_BIT_COLOR);
+      cogl_translate (-box.x1, -box.y1, 0);
       cogl_ortho (0, width, height, 0, 0, 1.0);
       clutter_actor_paint (actor);
       cogl_pop_framebuffer ();
diff --git a/src/st/st-shadow.c b/src/st/st-shadow.c
index df1787f99..4a2ff001d 100644
--- a/src/st/st-shadow.c
+++ b/src/st/st-shadow.c
@@ -292,11 +292,6 @@ st_shadow_helper_paint (StShadowHelper  *helper,
 
   clutter_actor_box_get_size (actor_box, &width, &height);
 
-  allocation.x1 = (width - helper->width) / 2;
-  allocation.y1 = (height - helper->height) / 2;
-  allocation.x2 = allocation.x1 + helper->width;
-  allocation.y2 = allocation.y1 + helper->height;
-
   _st_paint_shadow_with_opacity (helper->shadow,
                                  helper->material,
                                  &allocation,