diff --git a/shared/cairo-util.c b/shared/cairo-util.c
index 47a96e080..4bd5c28bb 100644
--- a/shared/cairo-util.c
+++ b/shared/cairo-util.c
@@ -45,16 +45,6 @@
 #include <pango/pangocairo.h>
 #endif
 
-void
-surface_flush_device(cairo_surface_t *surface)
-{
-	cairo_device_t *device;
-
-	device = cairo_surface_get_device(surface);
-	if (device)
-		cairo_device_flush(device);
-}
-
 static int
 blur_surface(cairo_surface_t *surface, int margin)
 {
diff --git a/shared/cairo-util.h b/shared/cairo-util.h
index e19f20088..d56618bad 100644
--- a/shared/cairo-util.h
+++ b/shared/cairo-util.h
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@
 #include <wayland-client.h>
 #include <wayland-util.h>
 
-void
-surface_flush_device(cairo_surface_t *surface);
-
 void
 render_shadow(cairo_t *cr, cairo_surface_t *surface,
 	      int x, int y, int width, int height, int margin, int top_margin);