diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index 2b33bb23011d..15b2868db1f1 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -157,24 +157,15 @@ def draw_image(self, gc, x, y, im):
         # bbox - not currently used
         if _debug: print '%s.%s()' % (self.__class__.__name__, _fn_name())
 
-        clippath, clippath_trans = gc.get_clip_path()
-
         im.flipud_out()
 
         rows, cols, buf = im.color_conv (BYTE_FORMAT)
         surface = cairo.ImageSurface.create_for_data (
                       buf, cairo.FORMAT_ARGB32, cols, rows, cols*4)
-        # function does not pass a 'gc' so use renderer.ctx
-        ctx = self.gc.ctx
-        ctx.save()
-        if clippath is not None:
-            ctx.new_path()
-            RendererCairo.convert_path(ctx, clippath, clippath_trans)
-            ctx.clip()
+        ctx = gc.ctx
         y = self.height - y - rows
         ctx.set_source_surface (surface, x, y)
         ctx.paint()
-        ctx.restore()
 
         im.flipud_out()