diff --git a/include/gui/Surface.h b/include/gui/Surface.h
index 6f2d40fc5..2288fe775 100644
--- a/include/gui/Surface.h
+++ b/include/gui/Surface.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public:
     status_t    setPosition(int32_t x, int32_t y);
     status_t    setSize(uint32_t w, uint32_t h);
     status_t    hide();
-    status_t    show(int32_t layer = -1);
+    status_t    show();
     status_t    setFlags(uint32_t flags, uint32_t mask);
     status_t    setTransparentRegionHint(const Region& transparent);
     status_t    setAlpha(float alpha=1.0f);
diff --git a/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h b/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
index 15a0c1eec..295e7fb7d 100644
--- a/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
+++ b/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public:
     static void closeGlobalTransaction(bool synchronous = false);
 
     status_t    hide(SurfaceID id);
-    status_t    show(SurfaceID id, int32_t layer = -1);
+    status_t    show(SurfaceID id);
     status_t    setFlags(SurfaceID id, uint32_t flags, uint32_t mask);
     status_t    setTransparentRegionHint(SurfaceID id, const Region& transparent);
     status_t    setLayer(SurfaceID id, int32_t layer);
diff --git a/libs/gui/Surface.cpp b/libs/gui/Surface.cpp
index 33cc48023..174506107 100644
--- a/libs/gui/Surface.cpp
+++ b/libs/gui/Surface.cpp
@@ -122,11 +122,11 @@ status_t SurfaceControl::hide() {
     const sp<SurfaceComposerClient>& client(mClient);
     return client->hide(mToken);
 }
-status_t SurfaceControl::show(int32_t layer) {
+status_t SurfaceControl::show() {
     status_t err = validate();
     if (err < 0) return err;
     const sp<SurfaceComposerClient>& client(mClient);
-    return client->show(mToken, layer);
+    return client->show(mToken);
 }
 status_t SurfaceControl::setFlags(uint32_t flags, uint32_t mask) {
     status_t err = validate();
diff --git a/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp b/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
index 1b81e45da..d55d42e9b 100644
--- a/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
+++ b/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ status_t SurfaceComposerClient::hide(SurfaceID id) {
             layer_state_t::eLayerHidden);
 }
 
-status_t SurfaceComposerClient::show(SurfaceID id, int32_t) {
+status_t SurfaceComposerClient::show(SurfaceID id) {
     return getComposer().setFlags(this, id,
             0,
             layer_state_t::eLayerHidden);