diff --git a/kstyle/breezehelper.h b/kstyle/breezehelper.h
--- a/kstyle/breezehelper.h
+++ b/kstyle/breezehelper.h
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@
 #include <QPainterPath>
 #include <QWidget>
 
-#if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
-#include <xcb/xcb.h>
-#endif
-
 namespace Breeze
 {
 
@@ -288,18 +284,6 @@
 
         //@}
 
-        //*@name X11 utilities
-        //@{
-
-        #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
-
-        //* create xcb atom
-        xcb_atom_t createAtom( const QString& ) const;
-
-        #endif
-
-        //@}
-
         //* frame radius
         constexpr qreal frameRadius( const int penWidth = PenWidth::NoPen, const qreal bias = 0 ) const
         { return qMax( Metrics::Frame_FrameRadius - (0.5 * penWidth) + bias, 0.0 ); }
@@ -316,9 +300,6 @@
 
         protected:
 
-        //* initialize
-        void init();
-
         //* return rounded path in a given rect, with only selected corners rounded, and for a given radius
         QPainterPath roundedPath( const QRectF&, Corners, qreal ) const;
 
@@ -342,13 +323,6 @@
         QColor _inactiveTitleBarTextColor;
         //@}
 
-        #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
-
-        //* atom used for compositing manager
-        xcb_atom_t _compositingManagerAtom;
-
-        #endif
-
     };
 
 }
diff --git a/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp b/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
--- a/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
+++ b/kstyle/breezehelper.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     //____________________________________________________________________
     Helper::Helper( KSharedConfig::Ptr config ):
         _config( std::move( config ) )
-    { init(); }
+    {}
 
     //____________________________________________________________________
     KSharedConfig::Ptr Helper::config() const
@@ -1577,13 +1577,7 @@
 
         #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
         if( isX11() )
-        {
-            // direct call to X
-            xcb_get_selection_owner_cookie_t cookie( xcb_get_selection_owner( QX11Info::connection(), _compositingManagerAtom ) );
-            ScopedPointer<xcb_get_selection_owner_reply_t> reply( xcb_get_selection_owner_reply( QX11Info::connection(), cookie, nullptr ) );
-            return reply && reply->owner;
-
-        }
+        { return QX11Info::isCompositingManagerRunning( QX11Info::appScreen() ); }
         #endif
 
         // use KWindowSystem
@@ -1610,39 +1604,4 @@
         return pixmap.devicePixelRatio();
     }
 
-    #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
-
-    //____________________________________________________________________
-    xcb_atom_t Helper::createAtom( const QString& name ) const
-    {
-        if( isX11() )
-        {
-
-            xcb_connection_t* connection( QX11Info::connection() );
-            xcb_intern_atom_cookie_t cookie( xcb_intern_atom( connection, false, name.size(), qPrintable( name ) ) );
-            ScopedPointer<xcb_intern_atom_reply_t> reply( xcb_intern_atom_reply( connection, cookie, nullptr) );
-            return reply ? reply->atom:0;
-
-        } else return 0;
-
-    }
-
-    #endif
-
-    //____________________________________________________________________
-    void Helper::init()
-    {
-        #if BREEZE_HAVE_X11
-
-        if( isX11() )
-        {
-            // create compositing screen
-            const QString atomName( QStringLiteral( "_NET_WM_CM_S%1" ).arg( QX11Info::appScreen() ) );
-            _compositingManagerAtom = createAtom( atomName );
-        }
-
-        #endif
-
-    }
-
 }