diff --git a/composite.h b/composite.h
--- a/composite.h
+++ b/composite.h
@@ -78,18 +78,10 @@
      * Checks whether @p w is the Scene's overlay window.
      **/
     bool checkForOverlayWindow(WId w) const;
-    /**
-     * @returns The Scene's Overlay X Window.
-     **/
-    WId overlayWindow() const;
     /**
      * @returns Whether the Scene's Overlay X Window is visible.
      **/
     bool isOverlayWindowVisible() const;
-    /**
-     * Set's the Scene's Overlay X Window visibility to @p visible.
-     **/
-    void setOverlayWindowVisibility(bool visible);
 
     Scene *scene() {
         return m_scene;
diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -905,17 +905,6 @@
     return w == m_scene->overlayWindow()->window();
 }
 
-WId Compositor::overlayWindow() const
-{
-    if (!hasScene()) {
-        return None;
-    }
-    if (!m_scene->overlayWindow()) {
-        return None;
-    }
-    return m_scene->overlayWindow()->window();
-}
-
 bool Compositor::isOverlayWindowVisible() const
 {
     if (!hasScene()) {
@@ -927,13 +916,6 @@
     return m_scene->overlayWindow()->isVisible();
 }
 
-void Compositor::setOverlayWindowVisibility(bool visible)
-{
-    if (hasScene() && m_scene->overlayWindow()) {
-        m_scene->overlayWindow()->setVisibility(visible);
-    }
-}
-
 /*****************************************************
  * Workspace
  ****************************************************/
diff --git a/events.cpp b/events.cpp
--- a/events.cpp
+++ b/events.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 #include "tabbox.h"
 #endif
 #include "group.h"
-#include "overlaywindow.h"
 #include "rules.h"
 #include "unmanaged.h"
 #include "useractions.h"
@@ -506,29 +505,6 @@
         if (ScreenEdges::self()->isEntered(reinterpret_cast<xcb_client_message_event_t*>(e)))
             return true;
         break;
-    case XCB_EXPOSE: {
-        const auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_expose_event_t*>(e);
-        if (compositing()
-                && (event->window == rootWindow()   // root window needs repainting
-                    || (m_compositor->overlayWindow() != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && event->window == m_compositor->overlayWindow()))) { // overlay needs repainting
-            m_compositor->addRepaint(event->x, event->y, event->width, event->height);
-        }
-        break;
-    }
-    case XCB_VISIBILITY_NOTIFY: {
-        const auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_visibility_notify_event_t*>(e);
-        if (compositing() && m_compositor->overlayWindow() != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && event->window == m_compositor->overlayWindow()) {
-            bool was_visible = m_compositor->isOverlayWindowVisible();
-            m_compositor->setOverlayWindowVisibility((event->state != XCB_VISIBILITY_FULLY_OBSCURED));
-            if (!was_visible && m_compositor->isOverlayWindowVisible()) {
-                // hack for #154825
-                m_compositor->addRepaintFull();
-                QTimer::singleShot(2000, m_compositor, SLOT(addRepaintFull()));
-            }
-            m_compositor->scheduleRepaint();
-        }
-        break;
-    }
     default:
         if (eventType == Xcb::Extensions::self()->randrNotifyEvent() && Xcb::Extensions::self()->isRandrAvailable()) {
             auto *event = reinterpret_cast<xcb_randr_screen_change_notify_event_t*>(e);
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@
 #define KWIN_OVERLAYWINDOW_X11_H
 
 #include "../../../../overlaywindow.h"
+#include "../../../../x11eventfilter.h"
 
 namespace KWin {
-class KWIN_EXPORT OverlayWindowX11 : public OverlayWindow {
+class KWIN_EXPORT OverlayWindowX11 : public OverlayWindow, public X11EventFilter {
 public:
     OverlayWindowX11();
     ~OverlayWindowX11();
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@
     xcb_window_t window() const override;
     bool isVisible() const override;
     void setVisibility(bool visible) override;
+
+    bool event(xcb_generic_event_t *event) override;
 private:
     void setNoneBackgroundPixmap(xcb_window_t window);
     void setupInputShape(xcb_window_t window);
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "overlaywindow_x11.h"
 
 #include "kwinglobals.h"
+#include "composite.h"
 #include "screens.h"
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "xcbutils.h"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 namespace KWin {
 OverlayWindowX11::OverlayWindowX11()
     : OverlayWindow()
+    , X11EventFilter(QVector<int>{XCB_EXPOSE, XCB_VISIBILITY_NOTIFY})
     , m_visible(true)
     , m_shown(false)
     , m_window(XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
@@ -181,5 +183,31 @@
     return m_window;
 }
 
+bool OverlayWindowX11::event(xcb_generic_event_t *event)
+{
+    const uint8_t eventType = event->response_type & ~0x80;
+    if (eventType == XCB_EXPOSE) {
+        const auto *expose = reinterpret_cast<xcb_expose_event_t*>(event);
+        if (expose->window == rootWindow()   // root window needs repainting
+                || (m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && expose->window == m_window)) { // overlay needs repainting
+            Compositor::self()->addRepaint(expose->x, expose->y, expose->width, expose->height);
+        }
+    } else if (eventType == XCB_VISIBILITY_NOTIFY) {
+        const auto *visibility = reinterpret_cast<xcb_visibility_notify_event_t*>(event);
+        if (m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE && visibility->window == m_window) {
+            bool was_visible = isVisible();
+            setVisibility((visibility->state != XCB_VISIBILITY_FULLY_OBSCURED));
+            auto compositor = Compositor::self();
+            if (!was_visible && m_visible) {
+                // hack for #154825
+                compositor->addRepaintFull();
+                QTimer::singleShot(2000, compositor, &Compositor::addRepaintFull);
+            }
+            compositor->scheduleRepaint();
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 } // namespace KWin