diff --git a/libvo/x11_common.c b/libvo/x11_common.c
index 12fc661dee..c576839ddb 100644
--- a/libvo/x11_common.c
+++ b/libvo/x11_common.c
@@ -732,7 +732,6 @@ void vo_x11_uninit(struct vo *vo)
     {
         if (x11->vo_gc != None)
         {
-            XSetBackground(vo->x11->display, x11->vo_gc, 0);
             XFreeGC(vo->x11->display, x11->vo_gc);
             x11->vo_gc = None;
         }
@@ -1050,7 +1049,6 @@ void vo_x11_create_vo_window(struct vo *vo, XVisualInfo *vis, int x, int y,
   struct MPOpts *opts = vo->opts;
   struct vo_x11_state *x11 = vo->x11;
   Display *mDisplay = vo->x11->display;
-  XGCValues xgcv;
   if (WinID >= 0) {
     vo_fs = flags & VOFLAG_FULLSCREEN;
     x11->window = WinID ? (Window)WinID : x11->rootwin;
@@ -1122,7 +1120,8 @@ void vo_x11_create_vo_window(struct vo *vo, XVisualInfo *vis, int x, int y,
 final:
   if (x11->vo_gc != None)
     XFreeGC(mDisplay, x11->vo_gc);
-  x11->vo_gc = XCreateGC(mDisplay, x11->window, GCForeground, &xgcv);
+  x11->vo_gc = XCreateGC(mDisplay, x11->window, 0, NULL);
+
   XSync(mDisplay, False);
   x11->vo_mouse_autohide = 1;
   vo->event_fd = ConnectionNumber(x11->display);