diff --git a/source/view.c b/source/view.c
index ecf095c6e..f5102a759 100644
--- a/source/view.c
+++ b/source/view.c
@@ -1344,20 +1344,18 @@ void rofi_view_update(RofiViewState *state, gboolean qr) {
       cairo_set_source_surface(d, CacheState.fake_bg, 0.0, 0.0);
     } else {
       cairo_set_source_surface(d, CacheState.fake_bg,
-                               -(double)(state->x - CacheState.mon.x),
-                               -(double)(state->y - CacheState.mon.y));
+                               (double)(CacheState.mon.x - state->x),
+                               (double)(CacheState.mon.y - state->y));
     }
-    cairo_paint(d);
-    cairo_set_operator(d, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
   } else {
     // Paint the background transparent.
     cairo_set_source_rgba(d, 0, 0, 0, 0.0);
-    cairo_paint(d);
   }
-  TICK_N("Background");
-
+  cairo_paint(d);
   // Always paint as overlay over the background.
   cairo_set_operator(d, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
+
+  TICK_N("Background");
   widget_draw(WIDGET(state->main_window), d);
 
 #ifdef XCB_IMDKIT
diff --git a/source/widgets/textbox.c b/source/widgets/textbox.c
index 9c1a25d58..c1f0eabcd 100644
--- a/source/widgets/textbox.c
+++ b/source/widgets/textbox.c
@@ -494,37 +494,29 @@ static void textbox_draw(widget *wid, cairo_t *draw) {
   }
   y += top;
 
-  // TODO check if this is still needed after flatning.
-  cairo_set_operator(draw, CAIRO_OPERATOR_OVER);
+  // Set ARGB
+  // NOTE: cairo operator must be OVER at this moment,
+  // to not break subpixel text rendering.
+
   cairo_set_source_rgb(draw, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
   // use text color as fallback for themes that don't specify the cursor color
   rofi_theme_get_color(WIDGET(tb), "text-color", draw);
 
-  // Set ARGB
-  // We need to set over, otherwise subpixel hinting wont work.
-  switch (pango_layout_get_alignment(tb->layout)) {
-  case PANGO_ALIGN_CENTER: {
-    int rem =
-        MAX(0, tb->widget.w - widget_padding_get_padding_width(WIDGET(tb)) -
-                   line_width - dot_offset);
-    x = (tb->xalign - 0.5) * rem + widget_padding_get_left(WIDGET(tb));
-    break;
-  }
-  case PANGO_ALIGN_RIGHT: {
-    int rem =
-        MAX(0, tb->widget.w - widget_padding_get_padding_width(WIDGET(tb)) -
-                   line_width - dot_offset);
-    x = -(1.0 - tb->xalign) * rem + widget_padding_get_left(WIDGET(tb));
-    break;
-  }
-  default: {
-    int rem =
-        MAX(0, tb->widget.w - widget_padding_get_padding_width(WIDGET(tb)) -
-                   line_width - dot_offset);
-    x = tb->xalign * rem + widget_padding_get_left(WIDGET(tb));
-    x += dot_offset;
-    break;
-  }
+  { int rem =
+          MAX(0, tb->widget.w - widget_padding_get_padding_width(WIDGET(tb)) -
+                     line_width - dot_offset);
+    switch (pango_layout_get_alignment(tb->layout)) {
+    case PANGO_ALIGN_CENTER:
+      x = rem * (tb->xalign - 0.5);
+      break;
+    case PANGO_ALIGN_RIGHT:
+      x = rem * (tb->xalign - 1.0);
+      break;
+    default:
+      x = rem * tb->xalign + dot_offset;
+      break;
+    }
+    x += widget_padding_get_left(WIDGET(tb));
   }
 
   // draw the cursor
@@ -574,11 +566,12 @@ static void textbox_draw(widget *wid, cairo_t *draw) {
   cairo_rectangle(draw, x1, y1, x2 - x1, y2 - y1);
   cairo_clip(draw);
 
-  gboolean show_outline =
-      rofi_theme_get_boolean(WIDGET(tb), "text-outline", FALSE);
+  gboolean show_outline;
   if (tb->show_placeholder) {
     rofi_theme_get_color(WIDGET(tb), "placeholder-color", draw);
     show_outline = FALSE;
+  } else {
+    show_outline = rofi_theme_get_boolean(WIDGET(tb), "text-outline", FALSE);
   }
   cairo_move_to(draw, x, top);
   pango_cairo_show_layout(draw, tb->layout);