diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index d06cc34eaa89..de403f79ce76 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -76,26 +76,8 @@ def _set_device_scale(self, value):
             self.figure.dpi = self.figure.dpi / self._device_scale * value
             self._device_scale = value
 
-    def get_renderer(self, cleared=False):
-        l, b, w, h = self.figure.bbox.bounds
-        key = w, h, self.figure.dpi
-        try:
-            self._lastKey, self._renderer
-        except AttributeError:
-            need_new_renderer = True
-        else:
-            need_new_renderer = (self._lastKey != key)
-
-        if need_new_renderer:
-            self._renderer = RendererAgg(w, h, self.figure.dpi)
-            self._lastKey = key
-        elif cleared:
-            self._renderer.clear()
-
-        return self._renderer
-
     def _draw(self):
-        renderer = self.get_renderer()
+        renderer = self.get_renderer(cleared=self.figure.stale)
 
         if self.figure.stale:
             self.figure.draw(renderer)