diff --git a/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
index 5a12918c98f2b8b792a6754bd711986201fe5d9a..2ef44927368fd1c1fcdeb4b0e26e84a67076f872 100644
--- a/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -163,13 +163,6 @@ Item {
         showDropShadow: !showingApp
     }
     
-    // top panel background (background for the rest of the screen in SlidingPanel.qml)
-    Rectangle {
-        anchors.fill: parent
-        color: PlasmaCore.Theme.backgroundColor
-        opacity: 0.6 * Math.min(1, slidingPanel.offset/panelContents.height)
-    }
-    
     // initial swipe down
     MouseArea {
         z: 99