diff --git a/src/backend/backend_common.c b/src/backend/backend_common.c
index 177d372221..dacc68fd93 100644
--- a/src/backend/backend_common.c
+++ b/src/backend/backend_common.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ xcb_image_t *make_shadow(struct x_connection *c, const conv *kernel, double opac
  */
 bool build_shadow(struct x_connection *c, double opacity, const int width,
                   const int height, const conv *kernel, xcb_render_picture_t shadow_pixel,
-                  xcb_pixmap_t *pixmap, xcb_render_picture_t *pict) {
+                  xcb_pixmap_t *pixmap) {
 	xcb_image_t *shadow_image = NULL;
 	xcb_pixmap_t shadow_pixmap = XCB_NONE, shadow_pixmap_argb = XCB_NONE;
 	xcb_render_picture_t shadow_picture = XCB_NONE, shadow_picture_argb = XCB_NONE;
@@ -262,12 +262,12 @@ bool build_shadow(struct x_connection *c, double opacity, const int width,
 	                     shadow_image->height);
 
 	*pixmap = shadow_pixmap_argb;
-	*pict = shadow_picture_argb;
 
 	xcb_free_gc(c->c, gc);
 	xcb_image_destroy(shadow_image);
 	xcb_free_pixmap(c->c, shadow_pixmap);
 	x_free_picture(c, shadow_picture);
+	x_free_picture(c, shadow_picture_argb);
 
 	return true;
 
diff --git a/src/backend/backend_common.h b/src/backend/backend_common.h
index 0bab860763..b531340787 100644
--- a/src/backend/backend_common.h
+++ b/src/backend/backend_common.h
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ struct dual_kawase_params {
 xcb_image_t *make_shadow(struct x_connection *c, const conv *kernel, double opacity,
                          int width, int height);
 bool build_shadow(struct x_connection *, double opacity, int width, int height,
-                  const conv *kernel, xcb_render_picture_t shadow_pixel,
-                  xcb_pixmap_t *pixmap, xcb_render_picture_t *pict);
+                  const conv *kernel, xcb_render_picture_t shadow_pixel, xcb_pixmap_t *pixmap);
 
 xcb_render_picture_t
 solid_picture(struct x_connection *, bool argb, double a, double r, double g, double b);
diff --git a/src/renderer/renderer.c b/src/renderer/renderer.c
index 4531351213..0f5e18a5ed 100644
--- a/src/renderer/renderer.c
+++ b/src/renderer/renderer.c
@@ -351,10 +351,8 @@ static bool
 renderer_bind_shadow(struct renderer *r, struct backend_base *backend, struct win *w) {
 	if (backend->ops.quirks(backend) & BACKEND_QUIRK_SLOW_BLUR) {
 		xcb_pixmap_t shadow = XCB_NONE;
-		xcb_render_picture_t pict = XCB_NONE;
-
 		if (!build_shadow(backend->c, r->shadow_color.alpha, w->widthb, w->heightb,
-		                  (void *)r->shadow_kernel, r->shadow_pixel, &shadow, &pict)) {
+		                  (void *)r->shadow_kernel, r->shadow_pixel, &shadow)) {
 			return false;
 		}