diff --git a/event.c b/event.c
index 15aee30ca..44ce34184 100644
--- a/event.c
+++ b/event.c
@@ -365,9 +365,10 @@ event_handle_expose(void *data __attribute__ ((unused)),
     {
         for(screen = 0; screen < globalconf.screens_info->nscreen; screen++)
             for(statusbar = globalconf.screens[screen].statusbar; statusbar; statusbar = statusbar->next)
-                if(statusbar->sw->window == ev->window)
+                if(statusbar->sw->window == ev->window
+                   && statusbar->position)
                 {
-                    statusbar_display(statusbar);
+                    simplewindow_refresh_drawable(statusbar->sw);
                     return 0;
                 }
 
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index 119a166d1..03a3569ef 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ statusbar_draw(Statusbar *statusbar)
     int left = 0, right = 0;
     area_t rectangle = { 0, 0, 0, 0, NULL, NULL };
 
+    if(!statusbar->position)
+        return;
+
     rectangle.width = statusbar->width;
     rectangle.height = statusbar->height;
     draw_rectangle(statusbar->ctx, rectangle, 1.0, true,
@@ -158,15 +161,7 @@ statusbar_draw(Statusbar *statusbar)
           break;
     }
 
-    statusbar_display(statusbar);
-}
-
-void
-statusbar_display(Statusbar *statusbar)
-{
-    /* don't waste our time */
-    if(statusbar->position != Off)
-        simplewindow_refresh_drawable(statusbar->sw);
+    simplewindow_refresh_drawable(statusbar->sw);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/statusbar.h b/statusbar.h
index c091fb7f2..28013ca71 100644
--- a/statusbar.h
+++ b/statusbar.h
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 void statusbar_refresh(void);
 void statusbar_preinit(Statusbar *);
 void statusbar_init(Statusbar *);
-void statusbar_display(Statusbar *);
 Statusbar * statusbar_getbyname(int, const char *);
 
 Uicb uicb_statusbar_toggle;