diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/main.cc b/gtk2_ardour/main.cc
index fc2492a7a1..32e14420ff 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/main.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/main.cc
@@ -314,8 +314,6 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[])
 		ui->set_keybindings_path (keybindings_path);
 	}
 
-	gdk_window_set_debug_updates (true);
-
 	ui->run (text_receiver);
 	ui = 0;