diff --git a/include/render/gles2.h b/include/render/gles2.h
index ff39206c..f54fc835 100644
--- a/include/render/gles2.h
+++ b/include/render/gles2.h
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#include <wlr/backend.h>
 #include <wlr/render/egl.h>
 #include <wlr/render/gles2.h>
 #include <wlr/render/interface.h>
diff --git a/include/wlr/render/gles2.h b/include/wlr/render/gles2.h
index e6844ce9..f8db6195 100644
--- a/include/wlr/render/gles2.h
+++ b/include/wlr/render/gles2.h
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 #define WLR_RENDER_GLES2_H
 
 #include <GLES2/gl2.h>
-#include <wlr/backend.h>
 #include <wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h>
 
 struct wlr_egl;
diff --git a/include/wlr/render/pixman.h b/include/wlr/render/pixman.h
index 9a7be877..7e19fa4e 100644
--- a/include/wlr/render/pixman.h
+++ b/include/wlr/render/pixman.h
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 #define WLR_RENDER_PIXMAN_H
 
 #include <pixman.h>
-#include <wlr/backend.h>
 #include <wlr/render/wlr_renderer.h>
 
 struct wlr_renderer *wlr_pixman_renderer_create(void);