diff --git a/repos/gems/src/app/backdrop/main.cc b/repos/gems/src/app/backdrop/main.cc
index a78883ae4c..74af42cf0a 100644
--- a/repos/gems/src/app/backdrop/main.cc
+++ b/repos/gems/src/app/backdrop/main.cc
@@ -135,11 +135,6 @@ struct Backdrop::Main
 	Signal_handler<Main> _config_handler = {
 		_env.ep(), *this, &Main::_handle_config_signal };
 
-	void _handle_sync();
-
-	Signal_handler<Main> _sync_handler = {
-		_env.ep(), *this, &Main::_handle_sync};
-
 	template <typename PT>
 	void _paint_texture(Surface<PT> &, Texture<PT> const &, Surface_base::Point, bool);
 
@@ -345,20 +340,10 @@ void Backdrop::Main::_handle_config()
 		}
 	});
 
-	/* schedule buffer refresh */
-	_gui.framebuffer.sync_sigh(_sync_handler);
-}
-
-
-void Backdrop::Main::_handle_sync()
-{
 	Libc::with_libc([&] () {
 		_buffer->flush_surface();
 		_update_view();
 	});
-
-	/* disable sync signal until the next call of 'handle_config' */
-	_gui.framebuffer.sync_sigh(Signal_context_capability());
 }
 
 
diff --git a/repos/libports/src/app/pdf_view/main.cc b/repos/libports/src/app/pdf_view/main.cc
index 904a47183d..7931ee9b42 100644
--- a/repos/libports/src/app/pdf_view/main.cc
+++ b/repos/libports/src/app/pdf_view/main.cc
@@ -101,9 +101,6 @@ class Pdf_view
 		Genode::Signal_handler<Pdf_view> _nit_mode_handler {
 			_env.ep(), *this, &Pdf_view::_handle_nit_mode };
 
-		Genode::Signal_handler<Pdf_view> _sync_handler {
-			_env.ep(), *this, &Pdf_view::_refresh };
-
 		Genode::Signal_handler<Pdf_view> _input_handler {
 			_env.ep(), *this, &Pdf_view::_handle_input_events };
 
@@ -213,14 +210,6 @@ class Pdf_view
 					_handle_input_event(ev); }); });
 		}
 
-		void _refresh()
-		{
-			_gui.framebuffer.refresh(0, 0, _nit_mode.area.w, _nit_mode.area.h);
-
-			/* handle one sync signal only */
-			_gui.framebuffer.sync_sigh(Genode::Signal_context_capability());
-		}
-
 	public:
 
 		/**
@@ -317,8 +306,7 @@ void Pdf_view::show()
 		dst_line += dst_line_width;
 	}
 
-	/* refresh after the next sync signal */
-	_gui.framebuffer.sync_sigh(_sync_handler);
+	_gui.framebuffer.refresh(0, 0, _nit_mode.area.w, _nit_mode.area.h);
 }