gtk_clist_set_pixmap and gtk_clist_set_pixtext requires to use a mask, when this is not necesary in most cases. This patch is to allow the mask argument in these functions to be NULL. If this is the case, it will not _ref/unref the bitmap mask and will not set the clip_mask to the gc before drawing the pixmap. If you want to test it, you can change in testgtk the line: gtk_clist_set_pixtext (GTK_CLIST (data), row, 3, "Testing", 5, pixmap, mask); to: gtk_clist_set_pixtext (GTK_CLIST (data), row, 3, "Testing", 5, pixmap, NULL); testgtk needs the mask to look right, I sugest the change only to test this patch, not to be permanent.