diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/qgslegendrenderer.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/qgslegendrenderer.sip.in
index b18ce2f4486..743d2c7cff7 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/qgslegendrenderer.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/qgslegendrenderer.sip.in
@@ -71,9 +71,11 @@ Draws the legend with given ``painter``. The legend will occupy the area reporte
 The ``painter`` should be scaled beforehand so that units correspond to millimeters.
 %End
 
-    void drawLegend( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext );
+    void drawLegend( QgsRenderContext &context );
 %Docstring
-Draws the legend using a given :py:class:`QgsRenderContext`. The legend will occupy the area reported in legendSize().
+Draws the legend using a given render ``context``. The legend will occupy the area reported in legendSize().
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.6
 %End
 
     static void setNodeLegendStyle( QgsLayerTreeNode *node, QgsLegendStyle::Style style );
diff --git a/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.cpp b/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.cpp
index 3bd093b3581..d2e5c7733d9 100644
--- a/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.cpp
@@ -831,12 +831,12 @@ QSizeF QgsLegendRenderer::drawGroupTitle( QgsLayerTreeGroup *nodeGroup, QgsRende
 }
 
 
-void QgsLegendRenderer::drawLegend( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext )
+void QgsLegendRenderer::drawLegend( QgsRenderContext &context )
 {
-  paintAndDetermineSize( rendercontext );
+  paintAndDetermineSize( &context );
 }
 
-QSizeF QgsLegendRenderer::paintAndDetermineSize( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext )
+QSizeF QgsLegendRenderer::paintAndDetermineSize( QgsRenderContext *context )
 {
   QSizeF size( 0, 0 );
   QgsLayerTreeGroup *rootGroup = mLegendModel->rootGroup();
@@ -889,7 +889,7 @@ QSizeF QgsLegendRenderer::paintAndDetermineSize( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext
       point.ry() += spaceAboveAtom( atom );
     }
 
-    QSizeF atomSize = drawAtom( atom, rendercontext, point );
+    QSizeF atomSize = drawAtom( atom, context, point );
     columnWidth = std::max( atomSize.width(), columnWidth );
 
     point.ry() += atom.size.height();
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ QSizeF QgsLegendRenderer::paintAndDetermineSize( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext
       point.rx() = size.width() - mSettings.boxSpace();
     }
     point.ry() = mSettings.boxSpace();
-    drawTitle( rendercontext, point, mSettings.titleAlignment(), size.width() );
+    drawTitle( context, point, mSettings.titleAlignment(), size.width() );
   }
 
   return size;
diff --git a/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.h b/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.h
index 5b7e29aa044..6b4eab6d023 100644
--- a/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.h
+++ b/src/core/qgslegendrenderer.h
@@ -86,9 +86,11 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsLegendRenderer
     void drawLegend( QPainter *painter );
 
     /**
-     * Draws the legend using a given QgsRenderContext. The legend will occupy the area reported in legendSize().
+     * Draws the legend using a given render \a context. The legend will occupy the area reported in legendSize().
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.6
      */
-    void drawLegend( QgsRenderContext *rendercontext );
+    void drawLegend( QgsRenderContext &context );
 
     /**
      * Sets the \a style of a \a node.