diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 839cf86..0a3d7e4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -150,24 +150,6 @@ programs.nova-shell.systemd = {
 };
 ```
 
-### Niri overview backdrop
-
-If you use the Home Manager module like a civilized person, the required niri
-layer rule is added automatically. If you insist on managing your niri config
-by hand — because declarative configuration is apparently too convenient — add
-this to your `config.kdl`:
-
-```kdl
-layer-rule {
-    match namespace="^nova-overview-backdrop$"
-    place-within-backdrop true
-}
-```
-
-Without this, the overview backdrop widgets won't be visible between workspace
-rows. The bar will still work, you'll just miss out on the pretty parts, which
-is arguably what you deserve for not using Nix properly.
-
 ## Contributing
 
 Sure, why not. It can't get much worse, and the GPL requires you to share
diff --git a/modules/BackgroundOverlay.qml b/modules/BackgroundOverlay.qml
index bd028b6..696131c 100644
--- a/modules/BackgroundOverlay.qml
+++ b/modules/BackgroundOverlay.qml
@@ -53,11 +53,6 @@ PanelWindow {
                 Text {
                     text: ":"
                     color: colon._colors[colon._colorIdx % colon._colors.length]
-                    Behavior on color {
-                        ColorAnimation {
-                            duration: 800
-                        }
-                    }
                     font.pixelSize: 72
                     font.family: M.Theme.fontFamily
                     font.bold: true
@@ -109,11 +104,6 @@ PanelWindow {
                     property int _colorIdx: 0
                     readonly property var _colors: [M.Theme.base08, M.Theme.base09, M.Theme.base0A, M.Theme.base0B, M.Theme.base0C, M.Theme.base0D, M.Theme.base0E, M.Theme.base05]
                     color: _colors[_colorIdx % _colors.length]
-                    Behavior on color {
-                        ColorAnimation {
-                            duration: 800
-                        }
-                    }
 
                     SequentialAnimation {
                         loops: Animation.Infinite
@@ -186,11 +176,6 @@ PanelWindow {
                 width: parent.width * (clock.date.getSeconds() / 59)
                 height: parent.height
                 color: colon._colors[colon._colorIdx % colon._colors.length]
-                Behavior on color {
-                    ColorAnimation {
-                        duration: 800
-                    }
-                }
                 radius: 1
                 opacity: 0.6
 
diff --git a/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml b/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml
deleted file mode 100644
index fdb3c0f..0000000
--- a/modules/OverviewBackdrop.qml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,78 +0,0 @@
-import QtQuick
-import Quickshell
-import Quickshell.Wayland
-import "." as M
-
-// Rendered in niri's overview backdrop via place-within-backdrop layer rule.
-// Visible between workspace rows during overview.
-PanelWindow {
-    id: root
-
-    required property var screen
-
-    color: "transparent"
-
-    WlrLayershell.layer: WlrLayer.Background
-    WlrLayershell.exclusiveZone: -1
-    WlrLayershell.namespace: "nova-overview-backdrop"
-    mask: Region {}
-
-    anchors.top: true
-    anchors.left: true
-    anchors.right: true
-    anchors.bottom: true
-
-    // Test pattern — diagonal gradient with centered label
-    Rectangle {
-        anchors.fill: parent
-        gradient: Gradient {
-            orientation: Gradient.Horizontal
-            GradientStop {
-                position: 0
-                color: Qt.rgba(M.Theme.base0C.r, M.Theme.base0C.g, M.Theme.base0C.b, 0.15)
-            }
-            GradientStop {
-                position: 0.5
-                color: Qt.rgba(M.Theme.base0E.r, M.Theme.base0E.g, M.Theme.base0E.b, 0.1)
-            }
-            GradientStop {
-                position: 1
-                color: Qt.rgba(M.Theme.base09.r, M.Theme.base09.g, M.Theme.base09.b, 0.15)
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    // Grid of dots as a test pattern
-    Grid {
-        anchors.fill: parent
-        columns: Math.floor(width / 80)
-        rows: Math.floor(height / 80)
-
-        Repeater {
-            model: parent.columns * parent.rows
-            Rectangle {
-                width: 80
-                height: 80
-                color: "transparent"
-                Rectangle {
-                    anchors.centerIn: parent
-                    width: 4
-                    height: 4
-                    radius: 2
-                    color: M.Theme.base0D
-                    opacity: 0.2
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    Text {
-        anchors.centerIn: parent
-        text: "nova-shell overview backdrop"
-        color: M.Theme.base05
-        opacity: 0.3
-        font.pixelSize: 24
-        font.family: M.Theme.fontFamily
-        font.letterSpacing: 6
-    }
-}
diff --git a/modules/qmldir b/modules/qmldir
index 0fc1e6e..e7839d9 100644
--- a/modules/qmldir
+++ b/modules/qmldir
@@ -34,4 +34,3 @@ Notifications 1.0 Notifications.qml
 Power 1.0 Power.qml
 Privacy 1.0 Privacy.qml
 BackgroundOverlay 1.0 BackgroundOverlay.qml
-OverviewBackdrop 1.0 OverviewBackdrop.qml
diff --git a/nix/hm-module.nix b/nix/hm-module.nix
index b186191..35a0447 100644
--- a/nix/hm-module.nix
+++ b/nix/hm-module.nix
@@ -192,14 +192,6 @@ in
       in
       (pkgs.formats.json { }).generate "nova-shell-theme.json" finalTheme;
 
-    # Niri layer rules for backdrop placement (requires niri-flake hm module)
-    programs.niri.settings.layer-rules = lib.mkIf (config ? programs && config.programs ? niri) [
-      {
-        matches = [ { namespace = "^nova-overview-backdrop$"; } ];
-        place-within-backdrop = true;
-      }
-    ];
-
     systemd.user.services.nova-shell = lib.mkIf cfg.systemd.enable {
       Unit = {
         Description = "nova-shell Quickshell bar";
diff --git a/shell.qml b/shell.qml
index d6826f1..ec9007c 100644
--- a/shell.qml
+++ b/shell.qml
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ ShellRoot {
                 screen: scope.modelData
             }
 
-            OverviewBackdrop {
-                screen: scope.modelData
-            }
-
             ScreenCorners {
                 screen: scope.modelData
             }