diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/StatusBar.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/StatusBar.java
index 61da1f56a56a5..37c77f6e67e41 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/StatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/StatusBar.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.systemui.statusbar;
 
+import android.app.ActivityManager;
 import android.app.Service;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import android.os.RemoteException;
 import android.os.ServiceManager;
 import android.util.Slog;
 import android.util.Log;
+import android.view.Display;
 import android.view.Gravity;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
@@ -117,6 +119,15 @@ public abstract class StatusBar extends SystemUI implements CommandQueue.Callbac
                     | WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_TOUCHABLE_WHEN_WAKING
                     | WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SPLIT_TOUCH,
                 PixelFormat.RGBX_8888);
+        
+        // the status bar should be in an overlay if possible
+        final Display defaultDisplay 
+            = ((WindowManager)mContext.getSystemService(Context.WINDOW_SERVICE))
+                .getDefaultDisplay();
+        if (ActivityManager.isHighEndGfx(defaultDisplay)) {
+            lp.flags |= WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_HARDWARE_ACCELERATED;
+        }
+
         lp.gravity = getStatusBarGravity();
         lp.setTitle("StatusBar");
         lp.packageName = mContext.getPackageName();
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
index fe9eceb797d7c..dd8e3e810d76b 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/PhoneStatusBar.java
@@ -475,6 +475,10 @@ public class PhoneStatusBar extends StatusBar {
                     | WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SPLIT_TOUCH
                     | WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SLIPPERY,
                 PixelFormat.OPAQUE);
+        // this will allow the navbar to run in an overlay on devices that support this
+        if (ActivityManager.isHighEndGfx(mDisplay)) {
+            lp.flags |= WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_HARDWARE_ACCELERATED;
+        }
 
         lp.setTitle("NavigationBar");
         switch (rotation) {
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/KeyButtonView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/KeyButtonView.java
index 6368d1d8549ea..840087cc1f1e7 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/KeyButtonView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/policy/KeyButtonView.java
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public class KeyButtonView extends ImageView {
     Drawable mGlowBG;
     float mGlowAlpha = 0f, mGlowScale = 1f, mDrawingAlpha = 1f;
     boolean mSupportsLongpress = true;
+    RectF mRect = new RectF(0f,0f,0f,0f);
 
     Runnable mCheckLongPress = new Runnable() {
         public void run() {
@@ -120,8 +121,9 @@ public class KeyButtonView extends ImageView {
             mGlowBG.setAlpha((int)(mGlowAlpha * 255));
             mGlowBG.draw(canvas);
             canvas.restore();
-
-            canvas.saveLayerAlpha(null, (int)(mDrawingAlpha * 255), Canvas.ALL_SAVE_FLAG);
+            mRect.right = w;
+            mRect.bottom = h;
+            canvas.saveLayerAlpha(mRect, (int)(mDrawingAlpha * 255), Canvas.ALL_SAVE_FLAG);
         }
         super.onDraw(canvas);
         if (mGlowBG != null) {