diff --git a/shell/view/ActivityHost.py b/shell/view/ActivityHost.py
index 6a851df0..f2ad386f 100644
--- a/shell/view/ActivityHost.py
+++ b/shell/view/ActivityHost.py
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ class ActivityHost:
 
     def chat_show(self, frame_was_visible):
         if self._overlay_window:
-            self._overlay_window.show_all()
+            self._overlay_window.appear()
         self._chat_window.show_all()
         self._frame_was_visible = frame_was_visible
 
     def chat_hide(self):
         self._chat_window.hide()
         if self._overlay_window:
-            self._overlay_window.hide()
+            self._overlay_window.disappear()
         wasvis = self._frame_was_visible
         self._frame_was_visible = False
         return wasvis
diff --git a/shell/view/OverlayWindow.py b/shell/view/OverlayWindow.py
index 7980a1d0..f8354ea3 100644
--- a/shell/view/OverlayWindow.py
+++ b/shell/view/OverlayWindow.py
@@ -17,16 +17,21 @@
 import gtk
 import cairo
 
+def _grab_pixbuf(window=None):
+    if not window:
+        screen = gtk.gdk.screen_get_default()
+        window = screen.get_root_window()
+    color_map = gtk.gdk.colormap_get_system()
+    (x, y, w, h, bpp) = window.get_geometry()
+    return gtk.gdk.pixbuf_get_from_drawable(None, window, color_map, x, y, 0, 0, w, h)
 
 class OverlayWindow(gtk.Window):
     def __init__(self, lower_window):
         gtk.Window.__init__(self)
+        self._lower_window = lower_window
 
-        colormap = self.get_screen().get_rgba_colormap()
-        colormap=None
-        if not colormap:
-            raise RuntimeError("The window manager doesn't support compositing.")
-        self.set_colormap(colormap)
+        self._img = gtk.Image()
+        self.add(self._img)
 
         self.realize()
 
@@ -39,7 +44,20 @@ class OverlayWindow(gtk.Window):
         self.set_default_size(gtk.gdk.screen_width(), gtk.gdk.screen_height())
         self.set_app_paintable(True)
 
-        self.connect('expose-event', self._expose_cb)
+#        self.connect('expose-event', self._expose_cb)
+
+    def appear(self):
+        pbuf = _grab_pixbuf(self._lower_window)
+        #pbuf.saturate_and_pixelate(pbuf, 0.5, False)
+        w = pbuf.get_width()
+        h = pbuf.get_height()
+        pbuf2 = pbuf.composite_color_simple(w, h, gtk.gdk.INTERP_NEAREST, 100, 1024, 0, 0)
+        self._img.set_from_pixbuf(pbuf2)
+        self.show_all()
+
+    def disappear(self):
+        self._img.set_from_pixbuf(None)
+        self.hide()
 
     def _expose_cb(self, widget, event):
         cr = widget.window.cairo_create()