diff --git a/gfx/thebes/gfxPlatformGtk.cpp b/gfx/thebes/gfxPlatformGtk.cpp
index acef53403ca..30a6bfec810 100644
--- a/gfx/thebes/gfxPlatformGtk.cpp
+++ b/gfx/thebes/gfxPlatformGtk.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "gfxPangoFonts.h"
 #include "gfxContext.h"
 #include "gfxUserFontSet.h"
+#include "gfxUtils.h"
 #include "gfxFT2FontBase.h"
 
 #include "mozilla/gfx/2D.h"
@@ -125,9 +126,7 @@ gfxPlatformGtk::CreateOffscreenSurface(const IntSize& size,
     }
 
     if (newSurface && needsClear) {
-        nsRefPtr<gfxContext> tmpCtx = new gfxContext(newSurface);
-        tmpCtx->SetOperator(gfxContext::OPERATOR_CLEAR);
-        tmpCtx->Paint();
+        gfxUtils::ClearThebesSurface(newSurface);
     }
 
     return newSurface.forget();