diff --git a/src/x11/x.c b/src/x11/x.c
index 4cd7e41..3321e99 100644
--- a/src/x11/x.c
+++ b/src/x11/x.c
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ void x_display_surface(cairo_surface_t *srf, struct window_x11 *win, const struc
         x_win_move(win, dim->x, dim->y, dim->w, dim->h);
         cairo_xlib_surface_set_size(win->root_surface, dim->w, dim->h);
 
+        XClearWindow(xctx.dpy, win->xwin);
+        XFlush(xctx.dpy);
+
         cairo_set_source_surface(win->c_ctx, srf, 0, 0);
         cairo_paint(win->c_ctx);
         cairo_show_page(win->c_ctx);
@@ -650,6 +653,7 @@ struct window_x11 *x_win_create(void)
 
         wa.override_redirect = true;
         wa.background_pixmap = ParentRelative;
+        wa.background_pixel = 0;
         wa.event_mask =
             ExposureMask | KeyPressMask | VisibilityChangeMask |
             ButtonReleaseMask | FocusChangeMask| StructureNotifyMask;
@@ -665,7 +669,7 @@ struct window_x11 *x_win_create(void)
                                  DefaultDepth(xctx.dpy, DefaultScreen(xctx.dpy)),
                                  CopyFromParent,
                                  DefaultVisual(xctx.dpy, DefaultScreen(xctx.dpy)),
-                                 CWOverrideRedirect | CWBackPixmap | CWEventMask,
+                                 CWOverrideRedirect | CWBackPixmap | CWBackPixel | CWEventMask,
                                  &wa);
 
         x_set_wm(win->xwin);