diff --git a/kitty/cell_defines.glsl b/kitty/cell_defines.glsl
index 02580105e..0bc4f4a34 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_defines.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_defines.glsl
@@ -29,7 +29,3 @@
 #if (HAS_TRANSPARENCY == 1)
 #define TRANSPARENT
 #endif
-
-#if defined(TRANSPARENT) || (PHASE == PHASE_SPECIAL)
-#define NEEDS_BG_ALPHA
-#endif
diff --git a/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl b/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
index 30918c816..f96c83e5b 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_fragment.glsl
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 
 in vec3 background;
 in float draw_bg;
-#ifdef NEEDS_BG_ALPHA
 in float bg_alpha;
-#endif
 
 #ifdef NEEDS_FOREGROUND
 uniform sampler2DArray sprites;
diff --git a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
index d49803e49..5ea8fa3a9 100644
--- a/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
+++ b/kitty/cell_vertex.glsl
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ const uvec2 cell_pos_map[] = uvec2[4](
 
 out vec3 background;
 out float draw_bg;
-#ifdef NEEDS_BG_ALPHA
 out float bg_alpha;
-#endif
 
 #ifdef NEEDS_FOREGROUND
 uniform float inactive_text_alpha;
@@ -206,6 +204,7 @@ void main() {
     draw_bg = step(1, float(draw_bg_bitfield & draw_bg_mask));
 #endif
 
+    bg_alpha = 1.f;
 #ifdef TRANSPARENT
     // Set bg_alpha to background_opacity on cells that have the default background color
     // Which means they must not have a block cursor or a selection or reverse video