diff --git a/backends/x/x.go b/backends/x/x.go
index ffd2f14..78845c7 100644
--- a/backends/x/x.go
+++ b/backends/x/x.go
@@ -150,14 +150,13 @@ func (backend *Backend) handleXEvent (event xgb.Event) {
 		backend.metrics.windowHeight = newHeight
 
 		if sizeChanged {
-			// compress events
 			configureEvent =
 				backend.compressConfigureNotify(configureEvent)
-		
-			// resize and rebind canvas
+			// TODO: remove draw functions from reallocate canvas,
+			// and only reallocate when drawing and the window
+			// dimensions have changed
 			backend.reallocateCanvas()
-
-			// notify application of resize
+			backend.application.SetSize(backend.calculateBufferSize())
 			backend.channel <- stone.EventResize { }
 		}
 	}
@@ -204,6 +203,16 @@ func (backend *Backend) calculateWindowSize () (x, y int) {
 	return
 }
 
+func (backend *Backend) calculateBufferSize () (width, height int) {
+	width =
+		(backend.metrics.windowWidth - backend.metrics.padding * 2) /
+		backend.metrics.cellWidth
+	height =
+		(backend.metrics.windowHeight - backend.metrics.padding * 2) /
+		backend.metrics.cellHeight
+	return
+}
+
 func (backend *Backend) reallocateCanvas () {
 	backend.drawLock.Lock()
 	defer backend.drawLock.Unlock()