diff --git a/include/common/node-type.h b/include/common/node-type.h
index 0ae1c4a9..41f4d381 100644
--- a/include/common/node-type.h
+++ b/include/common/node-type.h
@@ -59,9 +59,6 @@ enum lab_node_type {
 	LAB_NODE_LAYER_POPUP,
 	LAB_NODE_SESSION_LOCK_SURFACE,
 	LAB_NODE_IME_POPUP,
-
-	/* never returned by get_cursor_context() */
-	LAB_NODE_TREE,
 };
 
 enum lab_node_type node_type_parse(const char *context);
diff --git a/src/desktop.c b/src/desktop.c
index 2327c193..75c2648e 100644
--- a/src/desktop.c
+++ b/src/desktop.c
@@ -331,9 +331,6 @@ get_cursor_context(struct server *server)
 				ret.node = node;
 				ret.type = LAB_NODE_MENUITEM;
 				return ret;
-			case LAB_NODE_TREE:
-				/* Continue to parent node */
-				break;
 			default:
 				/*
 				 * All other node descriptors (buttons, title,
diff --git a/src/output.c b/src/output.c
index e47da9ca..22e9fc4e 100644
--- a/src/output.c
+++ b/src/output.c
@@ -509,18 +509,10 @@ handle_new_output(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(output->layer_tree); i++) {
 		output->layer_tree[i] =
 			wlr_scene_tree_create(&server->scene->tree);
-		node_descriptor_create(&output->layer_tree[i]->node,
-			LAB_NODE_TREE, /*view*/ NULL, /*data*/ NULL);
 	}
 	output->layer_popup_tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(&server->scene->tree);
-	node_descriptor_create(&output->layer_popup_tree->node,
-		LAB_NODE_TREE, /*view*/ NULL, /*data*/ NULL);
 	output->osd_tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(&server->scene->tree);
-	node_descriptor_create(&output->osd_tree->node,
-		LAB_NODE_TREE, /*view*/ NULL, /*data*/ NULL);
 	output->session_lock_tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(&server->scene->tree);
-	node_descriptor_create(&output->session_lock_tree->node,
-		LAB_NODE_TREE, /*view*/ NULL, /*data*/ NULL);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set the z-positions to achieve the following order (from top to