diff --git a/src/backend/backend.h b/src/backend/backend.h
index 3fae433..fa01c80 100644
--- a/src/backend/backend.h
+++ b/src/backend/backend.h
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ struct kernel_blur_args {
 };
 
 struct backend_operations {
-
 	// ===========    Initialization    ===========
 
 	/// Initialize the backend, prepare for rendering to the target window.
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	void (*deinit)(backend_t *backend_data) attr_nonnull(1);
 
 	/// Called when rendering will be stopped for an unknown amount of
-	/// time (e.g. screen is unredirected). Free some resources.
+	/// time (e.g. when screen is unredirected). Free some resources.
 	///
 	/// Optional, not yet used
 	void (*pause)(backend_t *backend_data, session_t *ps);
@@ -115,7 +114,8 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	// but we have to discard the result (because the result of blurring that area
 	// will be wrong). That's why we cannot render into the back buffer directly.
 	// After rendering is done, `present` is called to update a portion of the actual
-	// back buffer, then present it to the screen.
+	// back buffer, then present it to the target (or update the target directly,
+	// if not back buffered).
 
 	/// Called before when a new frame starts.
 	///
@@ -143,11 +143,13 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	    attr_nonnull(1, 3, 4, 5);
 
 	/// Update part of the back buffer with the rendering buffer, then present the
-	/// back buffer onto the screen.
+	/// back buffer onto the target window (if not back buffered, update part of the
+	/// target window directly).
 	///
-	/// @param region part of the screen that should be updated. if NULL, update the
-	///               whole screen
-	void (*present)(backend_t *backend_data, const region_t *region) attr_nonnull(1);
+	/// Optional, if NULL, indicates the backend doesn't have render output
+	///
+	/// @param region part of the target that should be updated
+	void (*present)(backend_t *backend_data, const region_t *region) attr_nonnull(1, 2);
 
 	/**
 	 * Bind a X pixmap to the backend's internal image data structure.
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	 * @param reg_op       the clip region, define the part of the image to be
 	 *                     operated on.
 	 * @param reg_visible  define the part of the image that will eventually
-	 *                     be visible on screen. this is a hint to the backend
+	 *                     be visible on target. this is a hint to the backend
 	 *                     for optimization purposes.
 	 * @param args         extra arguments, operation specific
 	 * @return a new image data structure containing the result
@@ -231,8 +233,6 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	enum driver (*detect_driver)(backend_t *backend_data);
 };
 
-typedef backend_t *(*backend_init_fn)(session_t *ps)attr_nonnull(1);
-
 extern struct backend_operations *backend_list[];
 
 void paint_all_new(session_t *ps, struct managed_win *const t, bool ignore_damage)
diff --git a/src/compton.c b/src/compton.c
index 17263df..2e32eb6 100644
--- a/src/compton.c
+++ b/src/compton.c
@@ -1147,6 +1147,15 @@ xcb_window_t session_get_target_window(session_t *ps) {
 	return ps->overlay != XCB_NONE ? ps->overlay : ps->root;
 }
 
+static inline uint8_t session_redirection_mode(session_t *ps) {
+	if (ps->o.debug_mode || !backend_list[ps->o.backend]->present) {
+		// If the backend is not rendering to the screen, or if the backend
+		// doesn't render anything, we don't need to take over the screen.
+		return XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_AUTOMATIC;
+	}
+	return XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL;
+}
+
 /**
  * Redirect all windows.
  *
@@ -1162,9 +1171,7 @@ static bool redir_start(session_t *ps) {
 		xcb_map_window(ps->c, ps->overlay);
 	}
 
-	xcb_composite_redirect_subwindows(ps->c, ps->root,
-	                                  ps->o.debug_mode ? XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_AUTOMATIC
-	                                                   : XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL);
+	xcb_composite_redirect_subwindows(ps->c, ps->root, session_redirection_mode(ps));
 
 	x_sync(ps->c);
 
@@ -1210,9 +1217,7 @@ static void redir_stop(session_t *ps) {
 
 	destroy_backend(ps);
 
-	xcb_composite_unredirect_subwindows(ps->c, ps->root,
-	                                    ps->o.debug_mode ? XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_AUTOMATIC
-	                                                     : XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL);
+	xcb_composite_unredirect_subwindows(ps->c, ps->root, session_redirection_mode(ps));
 	// Unmap overlay window
 	if (ps->overlay)
 		xcb_unmap_window(ps->c, ps->overlay);
@@ -1845,19 +1850,24 @@ static session_t *session_init(int argc, char **argv, Display *dpy,
 	rebuild_screen_reg(ps);
 
 	// Create registration window
-	if (!ps->o.debug_mode && !register_cm(ps)) {
+	// If we are not taking over the screen, we don't need to register as a compositor
+	if (session_redirection_mode(ps) == XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL && !register_cm(ps)) {
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	// Overlay must be initialized before double buffer, and before creation
-	// of OpenGL context.
-	if (!ps->o.debug_mode) {
-		if (!init_overlay(ps)) {
-			goto err;
-		}
-	} else {
-		if (!init_debug_window(ps)) {
-			goto err;
+	// Target window must be initialized before the backend
+	//
+	// backend_operations::present == NULL means this backend doesn't need a target
+	// window
+	if (backend_list[ps->o.backend]->present != NULL) {
+		if (!ps->o.debug_mode) {
+			if (!init_overlay(ps)) {
+				goto err;
+			}
+		} else {
+			if (!init_debug_window(ps)) {
+				goto err;
+			}
 		}
 	}