diff --git a/app/display/display-types.h b/app/display/display-types.h
index 7e36e3b66d..62c2743d71 100644
--- a/app/display/display-types.h
+++ b/app/display/display-types.h
@@ -29,7 +29,15 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef USE_CAIRO_REGION
-typedef GdkRegion cairo_region_t;
+#define cairo_region_t GdkRegion
+#define cairo_rectangle_int_t GdkRectangle
+#define cairo_region_destroy gdk_region_destroy
+#define cairo_region_union gdk_region_union
+#define cairo_region_create_rectangle gdk_region_rectangle
+#define cairo_region_union_rectangle gdk_region_union_with_rect
+#define cairo_region_get_extents gdk_region_get_clipbox
+#define cairo_region_subtract gdk_region_subtract
+#define cairo_region_xor gdk_region_xor
 #endif
 
 
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasarc.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasarc.c
index 333563c6e5..a638a6b94d 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasarc.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasarc.c
@@ -305,11 +305,7 @@ gimp_canvas_arc_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = ceil (center_x + radius_x + 1.5) - rectangle.x;
   rectangle.height = ceil (center_y + radius_y + 1.5) - rectangle.y;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasboundary.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasboundary.c
index e37887c1c9..e76a989e59 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasboundary.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasboundary.c
@@ -340,11 +340,7 @@ gimp_canvas_boundary_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = x2 - x1 + 4;
   rectangle.height = y2 - y1 + 4;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvascorner.c b/app/display/gimpcanvascorner.c
index 17eb2e7a53..c1df3f7f65 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvascorner.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvascorner.c
@@ -423,11 +423,7 @@ gimp_canvas_corner_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = ceil (w + 3.0);
   rectangle.height = ceil (h + 3.0);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvascursor.c b/app/display/gimpcanvascursor.c
index 9b95d58932..ea83ea005e 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvascursor.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvascursor.c
@@ -199,11 +199,7 @@ gimp_canvas_cursor_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = ceil (x + GIMP_CURSOR_SIZE + 1.5) - rectangle.x;
   rectangle.height = ceil (y + GIMP_CURSOR_SIZE + 1.5) - rectangle.y;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasgrid.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasgrid.c
index 304be04643..3efa4c1884 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasgrid.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasgrid.c
@@ -364,11 +364,7 @@ gimp_canvas_grid_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = ceil (x2) - rectangle.x;
   rectangle.height = ceil (y2) - rectangle.y;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasgroup.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasgroup.c
index 03876068b4..05c29cc6cc 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasgroup.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasgroup.c
@@ -217,13 +217,8 @@ gimp_canvas_group_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
         }
       else if (sub_region)
         {
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_union (region, sub_region);
           cairo_region_destroy (sub_region);
-#else
-          gdk_region_union (region, sub_region);
-          gdk_region_destroy (sub_region);
-#endif
         }
     }
 
@@ -279,11 +274,7 @@ gimp_canvas_group_add_item (GimpCanvasGroup *group,
       if (region)
         {
           _gimp_canvas_item_update (GIMP_CANVAS_ITEM (group), region);
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_destroy (region);
-#else
-          gdk_region_destroy (region);
-#endif
         }
     }
 
@@ -320,11 +311,7 @@ gimp_canvas_group_remove_item (GimpCanvasGroup *group,
       if (region)
         {
           _gimp_canvas_item_update (GIMP_CANVAS_ITEM (group), region);
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_destroy (region);
-#else
-          gdk_region_destroy (region);
-#endif
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasguide.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasguide.c
index 6476b80031..a5e4610798 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasguide.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasguide.c
@@ -241,11 +241,7 @@ gimp_canvas_guide_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = ABS (x2 - x1) + 3.0;
   rectangle.height = ABS (y2 - y1) + 3.0;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvashandle.c b/app/display/gimpcanvashandle.c
index a852b7a48b..da11dd4e0a 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvashandle.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvashandle.c
@@ -500,11 +500,7 @@ gimp_canvas_handle_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       break;
     }
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasitem.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasitem.c
index c841a04dbb..3ec86520e9 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasitem.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasitem.c
@@ -267,11 +267,7 @@ gimp_canvas_item_dispatch_properties_changed (GObject     *object,
         {
           g_signal_emit (object, item_signals[UPDATE], 0,
                          region);
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_destroy (region);
-#else
-          gdk_region_destroy (region);
-#endif
         }
     }
 }
@@ -484,13 +480,8 @@ gimp_canvas_item_end_change (GimpCanvasItem *item)
             }
           else if (private->change_region)
             {
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
               cairo_region_union (region, private->change_region);
               cairo_region_destroy (private->change_region);
-#else
-              gdk_region_union (region, private->change_region);
-              gdk_region_destroy (private->change_region);
-#endif
             }
 
           private->change_region = NULL;
@@ -499,20 +490,12 @@ gimp_canvas_item_end_change (GimpCanvasItem *item)
             {
               g_signal_emit (item, item_signals[UPDATE], 0,
                              region);
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
               cairo_region_destroy (region);
-#else
-              gdk_region_destroy (region);
-#endif
             }
         }
       else if (private->change_region)
         {
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_destroy (private->change_region);
-#else
-          gdk_region_destroy (private->change_region);
-#endif
           private->change_region = NULL;
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasline.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasline.c
index 9ae7782bd4..bf01e73975 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasline.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasline.c
@@ -247,11 +247,7 @@ gimp_canvas_line_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.height = ceil (ABS (y2 - y1) + 5.0);
     }
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvaspassepartout.c b/app/display/gimpcanvaspassepartout.c
index a02204578a..961db7324f 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvaspassepartout.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvaspassepartout.c
@@ -89,19 +89,11 @@ gimp_canvas_passe_partout_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
 
   gimp_display_shell_draw_get_scaled_image_size (shell,
                                                  &rect.width, &rect.height);
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   outer = cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rect);
-#else
-  outer = gdk_region_rectangle (&rect);
-#endif
 
   inner = GIMP_CANVAS_ITEM_CLASS (parent_class)->get_extents (item, shell);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   cairo_region_subtract (outer, inner);
-#else
-  gdk_region_subtract (outer, inner);
-#endif
 
   return outer;
 }
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvaspath.c b/app/display/gimpcanvaspath.c
index bc3abdb15f..3a35759525 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvaspath.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvaspath.c
@@ -258,11 +258,7 @@ gimp_canvas_path_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
           rectangle.height = ceil (y2 + 1.5) - rectangle.y;
         }
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
     }
 
   return NULL;
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvaspen.c b/app/display/gimpcanvaspen.c
index 343cb1513d..a9f508abfb 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvaspen.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvaspen.c
@@ -172,22 +172,14 @@ gimp_canvas_pen_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
     {
       GdkRectangle rectangle;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       cairo_region_get_extents (region, (cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      gdk_region_get_clipbox (region, &rectangle);
-#endif
 
       rectangle.x      -= ceil (private->width / 2.0);
       rectangle.y      -= ceil (private->width / 2.0);
       rectangle.width  += private->width + 1;
       rectangle.height += private->width + 1;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       cairo_region_union_rectangle (region, (cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      gdk_region_union_with_rect (region, &rectangle);
-#endif
     }
 
   return region;
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvaspolygon.c b/app/display/gimpcanvaspolygon.c
index daac2df1e3..5493b433b7 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvaspolygon.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvaspolygon.c
@@ -285,11 +285,7 @@ gimp_canvas_polygon_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  = x2 - x1;
   rectangle.height = y2 - y1;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvasrectangle.c b/app/display/gimpcanvasrectangle.c
index d7e34154f6..55f7607977 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvasrectangle.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvasrectangle.c
@@ -276,11 +276,7 @@ gimp_canvas_rectangle_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.width  = ceil (w + 2.0);
       rectangle.height = ceil (h + 2.0);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
-  return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
+      return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
     }
   else if (w > 64 && h > 64)
     {
@@ -292,20 +288,12 @@ gimp_canvas_rectangle_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.width  = 3.0;
       rectangle.height = ceil (h + 3.0);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       region = cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      region = gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 
       /* right */
       rectangle.x      = floor (x + w - 1.5);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       cairo_region_union_rectangle (region, (cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      gdk_region_union_with_rect (region, &rectangle);
-#endif
 
       /* top */
       rectangle.x      = floor (x - 1.5);
@@ -313,20 +301,12 @@ gimp_canvas_rectangle_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.width  = ceil (w + 3.0);
       rectangle.height = 3.0;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       cairo_region_union_rectangle (region, (cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      gdk_region_union_with_rect (region, &rectangle);
-#endif
 
       /* bottom */
       rectangle.y      = floor (y + h - 1.5);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       cairo_region_union_rectangle (region, (cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      gdk_region_union_with_rect (region, &rectangle);
-#endif
 
       return region;
     }
@@ -337,11 +317,7 @@ gimp_canvas_rectangle_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.width  = ceil (w + 3.0);
       rectangle.height = ceil (h + 3.0);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
       return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-      return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvassamplepoint.c b/app/display/gimpcanvassamplepoint.c
index 93f70bb1aa..30d3f309dd 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvassamplepoint.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvassamplepoint.c
@@ -281,11 +281,7 @@ gimp_canvas_sample_point_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
   rectangle.width  += 5;
   rectangle.height += 5;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/app/display/gimpcanvastextcursor.c b/app/display/gimpcanvastextcursor.c
index c33b470e80..440dfd5079 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpcanvastextcursor.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpcanvastextcursor.c
@@ -294,11 +294,7 @@ gimp_canvas_text_cursor_get_extents (GimpCanvasItem   *item,
       rectangle.height = ceil (h + 3.0);
     }
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
   return cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) &rectangle);
-#else
-  return gdk_region_rectangle (&rectangle);
-#endif
 }
 
 GimpCanvasItem *
diff --git a/app/display/gimpdisplayshell.c b/app/display/gimpdisplayshell.c
index 96353b33b8..8820cee896 100644
--- a/app/display/gimpdisplayshell.c
+++ b/app/display/gimpdisplayshell.c
@@ -1768,33 +1768,17 @@ gimp_display_shell_set_highlight (GimpDisplayShell   *shell,
           if (memcmp (shell->highlight, highlight, sizeof (GdkRectangle)) == 0)
             return;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           old = cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) shell->highlight);
-#else
-          old = gdk_region_rectangle (shell->highlight);
-#endif
 
           *shell->highlight = *highlight;
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           new = cairo_region_create_rectangle ((cairo_rectangle_int_t *) shell->highlight);
-
           cairo_region_xor (old, new);
-#else
-          new = gdk_region_rectangle (shell->highlight);
-
-          gdk_region_xor (old, new);
-#endif
 
           gimp_display_shell_expose_region (shell, old);
 
-#ifdef USE_CAIRO_REGION
           cairo_region_destroy (old);
           cairo_region_destroy (new);
-#else
-          gdk_region_destroy (old);
-          gdk_region_destroy (new);
-#endif
         }
       else
         {