diff --git a/plugins/scenes/xrender/scene_xrender.cpp b/plugins/scenes/xrender/scene_xrender.cpp
--- a/plugins/scenes/xrender/scene_xrender.cpp
+++ b/plugins/scenes/xrender/scene_xrender.cpp
@@ -468,8 +468,9 @@
     } else {
         transformed_shape = shape();
     }
-    if (toplevel->hasShadow())
+    if (toplevel->shadow()) {
         transformed_shape |= toplevel->shadow()->shadowRegion();
+    }
 
     xcb_render_transform_t xform = {
         DOUBLE_TO_FIXED(1), DOUBLE_TO_FIXED(0), DOUBLE_TO_FIXED(0),
diff --git a/toplevel.h b/toplevel.h
--- a/toplevel.h
+++ b/toplevel.h
@@ -390,18 +390,11 @@
      */
     void elevate(bool elevate);
 
-    /**
-     * @returns Whether the Toplevel has a Shadow or not
-     * @see shadow
-     */
-    bool hasShadow() const;
     /**
      * Returns the pointer to the Toplevel's Shadow. A Shadow
      * is only available if Compositing is enabled and the corresponding X window
      * has the Shadow property set.
-     * If a shadow is available hasShadow returns @c true.
-     * @returns The Shadow belonging to this Toplevel, may be @c NULL.
-     * @see hasShadow
+     * @returns The Shadow belonging to this Toplevel, @c null if there's no Shadow.
      */
     const Shadow *shadow() const;
     Shadow *shadow();
diff --git a/toplevel.cpp b/toplevel.cpp
--- a/toplevel.cpp
+++ b/toplevel.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
 QRect Toplevel::visibleRect() const
 {
     QRect r = decorationRect();
-    if (hasShadow() && !shadow()->shadowRegion().isEmpty()) {
+    if (shadow() && !shadow()->shadowRegion().isEmpty()) {
         r |= shadow()->shadowRegion().boundingRect();
     }
     return r.translated(geometry().topLeft());
@@ -578,16 +578,16 @@
 {
     QRect dirtyRect;  // old & new shadow region
     const QRect oldVisibleRect = visibleRect();
-    if (hasShadow()) {
+    if (shadow()) {
         dirtyRect = shadow()->shadowRegion().boundingRect();
         if (!effectWindow()->sceneWindow()->shadow()->updateShadow()) {
             effectWindow()->sceneWindow()->updateShadow(nullptr);
         }
         emit shadowChanged();
     } else {
         Shadow::createShadow(this);
     }
-    if (hasShadow())
+    if (shadow())
         dirtyRect |= shadow()->shadowRegion().boundingRect();
     if (oldVisibleRect != visibleRect())
         emit paddingChanged(this, oldVisibleRect);
@@ -597,14 +597,6 @@
     }
 }
 
-bool Toplevel::hasShadow() const
-{
-    if (effectWindow() && effectWindow()->sceneWindow()) {
-        return effectWindow()->sceneWindow()->shadow() != nullptr;
-    }
-    return false;
-}
-
 Shadow *Toplevel::shadow()
 {
     if (effectWindow() && effectWindow()->sceneWindow()) {