diff --git a/examples/cogl-gles2-context.c b/examples/cogl-gles2-context.c
index 63c1a6dcf..1cf375fad 100644
--- a/examples/cogl-gles2-context.c
+++ b/examples/cogl-gles2-context.c
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ frame_event_cb (CoglOnscreen *onscreen,
                 CoglFrameInfo *info,
                 void *user_data)
 {
-  if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
-    g_idle_add (paint_cb, user_data);
+    if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
+        paint_cb (user_data);
 }
 
 int
diff --git a/examples/cogl-gles2-gears.c b/examples/cogl-gles2-gears.c
index ad795b082..d7dd27161 100644
--- a/examples/cogl-gles2-gears.c
+++ b/examples/cogl-gles2-gears.c
@@ -604,8 +604,8 @@ frame_event_cb (CoglOnscreen *onscreen,
                 CoglFrameInfo *info,
                 void *user_data)
 {
-  if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
-    g_idle_add (paint_cb, user_data);
+    if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
+        paint_cb (user_data);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/examples/cogl-hello.c b/examples/cogl-hello.c
index 8d86a9738..5bda9bf7e 100644
--- a/examples/cogl-hello.c
+++ b/examples/cogl-hello.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ frame_event_cb (CoglOnscreen *onscreen,
                 void *user_data)
 {
     if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
-        g_idle_add (paint_cb, user_data);
+        paint_cb (user_data);
 }
 
 int
diff --git a/tests/micro-perf/test-journal.c b/tests/micro-perf/test-journal.c
index e7df5893d..a96fa3e08 100644
--- a/tests/micro-perf/test-journal.c
+++ b/tests/micro-perf/test-journal.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ frame_event_cb (CoglOnscreen *onscreen,
                 void *user_data)
 {
   if (event == COGL_FRAME_EVENT_SYNC)
-    g_idle_add (paint_cb, user_data);
+    paint_cb (user_data);
 }
 
 int