diff --git a/kitty/shaders.c b/kitty/shaders.c
index 9e4f859f0..3a9e7496e 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.c
+++ b/kitty/shaders.c
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ draw_cells(ssize_t vao_idx, GLfloat xstart, GLfloat ystart, GLfloat dx, GLfloat
     glUniform4ui(UL(default_colors), COLOR(default_fg), COLOR(default_bg), COLOR(highlight_fg), COLOR(highlight_bg));
     check_gl();
 #undef COLOR
-    glUniform1i(UL(sprites), 0);
+    glUniform1i(UL(sprites), 0);  // the sprite map is bound to GL_TEXTURE0
     check_gl();
     unsigned int x, y, z;
     sprite_map_current_layout(&x, &y, &z);
diff --git a/kitty/shaders.py b/kitty/shaders.py
index cdb9c2926..650c5a41e 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.py
+++ b/kitty/shaders.py
@@ -29,14 +29,11 @@ class Sprites:
 
     def __init__(self):
         self.xnum = self.ynum = 1
-        self.first_cell_cache = {}
-        self.second_cell_cache = {}
         self.x = self.y = self.z = 0
         self.texture_id = None
         self.last_num_of_layers = 1
         self.last_ynum = -1
-        self.sampler_num = 0
-        self.texture_unit = GL_TEXTURE0 + self.sampler_num
+        self.texture_unit = GL_TEXTURE0
         sprite_map_set_limits(glGetIntegerv(GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE), glGetIntegerv(GL_MAX_ARRAY_TEXTURE_LAYERS))
 
     def do_layout(self, cell_width=1, cell_height=1):