diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.h b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.h
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.h
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.h
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@
 
 
 bool KWINGLUTILS_EXPORT hasGLVersion(int major, int minor, int release = 0);
-bool KWINGLUTILS_EXPORT hasGLXVersion(int major, int minor, int release = 0);
 bool KWINGLUTILS_EXPORT hasEGLVersion(int major, int minor, int release = 0);
 // use for both OpenGL and GLX extensions
 bool KWINGLUTILS_EXPORT hasGLExtension(const QByteArray &extension);
diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglutils.cpp
@@ -64,8 +64,6 @@
 namespace KWin
 {
 // Variables
-// GLX version, use MAKE_GL_VERSION() macro for comparing with a specific version
-static int glXVersion;
 // EGL version, use MAKE_GL_VERSION() macro for comparing with a specific version
 static int eglVersion;
 // List of all supported GL, EGL and GLX extensions
@@ -80,10 +78,6 @@
 void initGLX()
 {
 #if HAVE_EPOXY_GLX
-    // Get GLX version
-    int major, minor;
-    glXQueryVersion(display(), &major, &minor);
-    glXVersion = MAKE_GL_VERSION(major, minor, 0);
     // Get list of supported GLX extensions
     const QByteArray string = (const char *) glXQueryExtensionsString(display(), QX11Info::appScreen());
     s_glxExtensions = string.split(' ');
@@ -138,7 +132,6 @@
     s_glxExtensions.clear();
     s_eglExtensions.clear();
 
-    glXVersion = 0;
     eglVersion = 0;
     glTextureUnitsCount = 0;
 }
@@ -148,11 +141,6 @@
     return GLPlatform::instance()->glVersion() >= kVersionNumber(major, minor, release);
 }
 
-bool hasGLXVersion(int major, int minor, int release)
-{
-    return glXVersion >= MAKE_GL_VERSION(major, minor, release);
-}
-
 bool hasEGLVersion(int major, int minor, int release)
 {
     return eglVersion >= MAKE_GL_VERSION(major, minor, release);
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.h
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 
 private:
     bool initBuffer();
+    bool checkVersion();
     void waitSync();
     bool initRenderingContext();
     bool initFbConfig();
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
     initGLX();
 
     // Require at least GLX 1.3
-    if (!hasGLXVersion(1, 3)) {
+    if (!checkVersion()) {
         setFailed(QStringLiteral("Requires at least GLX 1.3"));
         return;
     }
@@ -246,6 +246,13 @@
     qCDebug(KWIN_X11STANDALONE) << "Direct rendering:" << isDirectRendering();
 }
 
+bool GlxBackend::checkVersion()
+{
+    int major, minor;
+    glXQueryVersion(display(), &major, &minor);
+    return kVersionNumber(major, minor) >= kVersionNumber(1, 3);
+}
+
 bool GlxBackend::initRenderingContext()
 {
     const bool direct = true;