diff --git a/backend/headless/backend.c b/backend/headless/backend.c
index 49c2c8ba..886be276 100644
--- a/backend/headless/backend.c
+++ b/backend/headless/backend.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ static void backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
 	}
 
 	wl_list_remove(&backend->display_destroy.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&backend->parent_renderer_destroy.link);
 
 	struct wlr_headless_output *output, *output_tmp;
 	wl_list_for_each_safe(output, output_tmp, &backend->outputs, link) {
@@ -70,17 +69,6 @@ static void backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
 	free(backend);
 }
 
-static struct wlr_renderer *backend_get_renderer(
-		struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
-	struct wlr_headless_backend *backend =
-		headless_backend_from_backend(wlr_backend);
-	if (backend->parent_renderer != NULL) {
-		return backend->parent_renderer;
-	} else {
-		return wlr_backend->renderer;
-	}
-}
-
 static int backend_get_drm_fd(struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
 	struct wlr_headless_backend *backend =
 		headless_backend_from_backend(wlr_backend);
@@ -96,7 +84,6 @@ static uint32_t get_buffer_caps(struct wlr_backend *wlr_backend) {
 static const struct wlr_backend_impl backend_impl = {
 	.start = backend_start,
 	.destroy = backend_destroy,
-	.get_renderer = backend_get_renderer,
 	.get_drm_fd = backend_get_drm_fd,
 	.get_buffer_caps = get_buffer_caps,
 };
@@ -107,33 +94,13 @@ static void handle_display_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	backend_destroy(&backend->backend);
 }
 
-static void handle_renderer_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct wlr_headless_backend *backend =
-		wl_container_of(listener, backend, parent_renderer_destroy);
-	backend_destroy(&backend->backend);
-}
-
 static bool backend_init(struct wlr_headless_backend *backend,
-		struct wl_display *display, struct wlr_renderer *renderer) {
+		struct wl_display *display) {
 	wlr_backend_init(&backend->backend, &backend_impl);
 
 	backend->display = display;
 	wl_list_init(&backend->outputs);
 	wl_list_init(&backend->input_devices);
-	wl_list_init(&backend->parent_renderer_destroy.link);
-
-	if (renderer == NULL) {
-		renderer = wlr_renderer_autocreate(&backend->backend);
-		if (!renderer) {
-			wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create renderer");
-			return false;
-		}
-		backend->backend.renderer = renderer;
-	} else {
-		backend->parent_renderer = renderer;
-		backend->parent_renderer_destroy.notify = handle_renderer_destroy;
-		wl_signal_add(&renderer->events.destroy, &backend->parent_renderer_destroy);
-	}
 
 	backend->display_destroy.notify = handle_display_destroy;
 	wl_display_add_destroy_listener(display, &backend->display_destroy);
@@ -202,7 +169,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_headless_backend_create(struct wl_display *display) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to open DRM render node");
 	}
 
-	if (!backend_init(backend, display, NULL)) {
+	if (!backend_init(backend, display)) {
 		goto error_init;
 	}
 
@@ -236,7 +203,7 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_headless_backend_create_with_renderer(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!backend_init(backend, display, renderer)) {
+	if (!backend_init(backend, display)) {
 		goto error_init;
 	}
 
diff --git a/include/backend/headless.h b/include/backend/headless.h
index 42a07db8..09d5856b 100644
--- a/include/backend/headless.h
+++ b/include/backend/headless.h
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ struct wlr_headless_backend {
 	size_t last_output_num;
 	struct wl_list input_devices;
 	struct wl_listener display_destroy;
-	struct wlr_renderer *parent_renderer;
-	struct wl_listener parent_renderer_destroy;
 	bool started;
 };