diff --git a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
--- a/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
+++ b/autotests/mock_effectshandler.h
@@ -176,7 +176,6 @@
     void registerAxisShortcut(Qt::KeyboardModifiers, KWin::PointerAxisDirection, QAction *) override {}
     void registerGlobalShortcut(const QKeySequence &, QAction *) override {}
     void registerPointerShortcut(Qt::KeyboardModifiers, Qt::MouseButton, QAction *) override {}
-    void registerPropertyType(long int, bool) override {}
     void reloadEffect(KWin::Effect *) override {}
     void removeSupportProperty(const QByteArray &, KWin::Effect *) override {}
     void reserveElectricBorder(KWin::ElectricBorder, KWin::Effect *) override {}
diff --git a/effects.h b/effects.h
--- a/effects.h
+++ b/effects.h
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@
     unsigned long xrenderBufferPicture() override;
     QPainter* scenePainter() override;
     void reconfigure() override;
-    void registerPropertyType(long atom, bool reg) override;
     QByteArray readRootProperty(long atom, long type, int format) const override;
     void deleteRootProperty(long atom) const override;
     xcb_atom_t announceSupportProperty(const QByteArray& propertyName, Effect* effect) override;
@@ -288,6 +287,7 @@
     int next_window_quad_type;
 
 private:
+    void registerPropertyType(long atom, bool reg);
     typedef QVector< Effect*> EffectsList;
     typedef EffectsList::const_iterator EffectsIterator;
     EffectsList m_activeEffects;
diff --git a/effects.cpp b/effects.cpp
--- a/effects.cpp
+++ b/effects.cpp
@@ -830,11 +830,6 @@
     return readWindowProperty(rootWindow(), atom, type, format);
 }
 
-void EffectsHandlerImpl::deleteRootProperty(long atom) const
-{
-    deleteWindowProperty(rootWindow(), atom);
-}
-
 void EffectsHandlerImpl::activateWindow(EffectWindow* c)
 {
     if (AbstractClient* cl = dynamic_cast< AbstractClient* >(static_cast<EffectWindowImpl*>(c)->window()))
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
--- a/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
@@ -1056,13 +1056,6 @@
     virtual QPainter *scenePainter() = 0;
     virtual void reconfigure() = 0;
 
-    /**
-     Makes KWin core watch PropertyNotify events for the given atom,
-     or stops watching if reg is false (must be called the same number
-     of times as registering). Events are sent using Effect::propertyNotify().
-     Note that even events that haven't been registered for can be received.
-    */
-    virtual void registerPropertyType(long atom, bool reg) = 0;
     virtual QByteArray readRootProperty(long atom, long type, int format) const = 0;
     virtual void deleteRootProperty(long atom) const = 0;
     /**