diff --git a/composite.h b/composite.h
--- a/composite.h
+++ b/composite.h
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void compositingToggled(bool active);
     void aboutToDestroy();
+    void aboutToToggleCompositing();
     void sceneCreated();
 
 protected:
diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@
         }
     }
 
+    emit aboutToToggleCompositing();
+
     auto supportedCompositors = kwinApp()->platform()->supportedCompositors();
     const auto userConfigIt = std::find(supportedCompositors.begin(), supportedCompositors.end(), options->compositingMode());
     if (userConfigIt != supportedCompositors.end()) {
@@ -373,6 +375,8 @@
     m_finishing = true;
     m_releaseSelectionTimer.start();
 
+    emit aboutToToggleCompositing();
+
     // Some effects might need access to effect windows when they are about to
     // be destroyed, for example to unreference deleted windows, so we have to
     // make sure that effect windows outlive effects.
@@ -1192,22 +1196,14 @@
     if (!Toplevel::setupCompositing()){
         return false;
     }
-    if (isDecorated()) {
-        decoratedClient()->destroyRenderer();
-    }
     updateVisibility(); // for internalKeep()
     return true;
 }
 
 void Client::finishCompositing(ReleaseReason releaseReason)
 {
     Toplevel::finishCompositing(releaseReason);
     updateVisibility();
-    if (!deleting) {
-        if (isDecorated()) {
-            decoratedClient()->destroyRenderer();
-        }
-    }
     // for safety in case KWin is just resizing the window
     resetHaveResizeEffect();
 }
diff --git a/decorations/decoratedclient.h b/decorations/decoratedclient.h
--- a/decorations/decoratedclient.h
+++ b/decorations/decoratedclient.h
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@
     Renderer *renderer() {
         return m_renderer;
     }
-    void destroyRenderer();
     KDecoration2::DecoratedClient *decoratedClient() {
         return KDecoration2::DecoratedClientPrivate::client();
     }
@@ -107,6 +106,7 @@
 
 private:
     void createRenderer();
+    void destroyRenderer();
     AbstractClient *m_client;
     QSize m_clientSize;
     Renderer *m_renderer;
diff --git a/decorations/decoratedclient.cpp b/decorations/decoratedclient.cpp
--- a/decorations/decoratedclient.cpp
+++ b/decorations/decoratedclient.cpp
@@ -87,10 +87,9 @@
             &Decoration::DecoratedClientImpl::signalShadeChange);
     connect(client, &AbstractClient::keepAboveChanged, decoratedClient, &KDecoration2::DecoratedClient::keepAboveChanged);
     connect(client, &AbstractClient::keepBelowChanged, decoratedClient, &KDecoration2::DecoratedClient::keepBelowChanged);
+    connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::aboutToToggleCompositing, this, &DecoratedClientImpl::destroyRenderer);
     m_compositorToggledConnection = connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::compositingToggled, this,
         [this, decoration]() {
-            delete m_renderer;
-            m_renderer = nullptr;
             createRenderer();
             decoration->update();
         }