diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index c733f3f9d3d7..421d857b0a03 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def set_context(self, ctx):
             rect, *rest = ctx.copy_clip_rectangle_list()
             if rest:
                 raise TypeError("Cannot infer surface size")
-            size = rect.width, rect.height
+            _, _, *size = rect
             ctx.restore()
         self.gc.ctx = ctx
         self.width, self.height = size