diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
index 12c1064d1dec..429fb1e7ccee 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_nbagg.py
@@ -234,8 +234,6 @@ class _BackendNbAgg(_Backend):
     @staticmethod
     def new_figure_manager_given_figure(num, figure):
         canvas = FigureCanvasNbAgg(figure)
-        if rcParams['nbagg.transparent']:
-            figure.patch.set_alpha(0)
         manager = FigureManagerNbAgg(canvas, num)
         if is_interactive():
             manager.show()