diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -526,7 +526,6 @@
 
 set(kwin_OWN_LIBS
     kwineffects
-    kwinxrenderutils
     kwin4_effect_builtins
 )
 
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 endif()
 
 add_library(KWinX11Platform MODULE ${X11PLATFORM_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform eglx11common kwin Qt5::X11Extras XCB::CURSOR)
+target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform eglx11common kwin kwinxrenderutils Qt5::X11Extras XCB::CURSOR)
 if(X11_Xinput_FOUND)
     target_link_libraries(KWinX11Platform ${X11_Xinput_LIB})
 endif()
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 #include "workspace.h"
 #include "x11_decoration_renderer.h"
 
+#include <kwinxrenderutils.h>
+
 #include <KConfigGroup>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 
@@ -76,14 +78,16 @@
         m_openGLFreezeProtectionThread->wait();
         delete m_openGLFreezeProtectionThread;
     }
+    XRenderUtils::cleanup();
 }
 
 void X11StandalonePlatform::init()
 {
     if (!QX11Info::isPlatformX11()) {
         emit initFailed();
         return;
     }
+    XRenderUtils::init(kwinApp()->x11Connection(), kwinApp()->x11RootWindow());
     setReady(true);
     emit screensQueried();
 }
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/windowed/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 )
 
 add_library(KWinWaylandX11Backend MODULE ${X11BACKEND_SOURCES})
-target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend eglx11common kwin X11::XCB SceneQPainterBackend)
+target_link_libraries(KWinWaylandX11Backend eglx11common kwin kwinxrenderutils X11::XCB SceneQPainterBackend)
 
 install(
     TARGETS
diff --git a/plugins/scenes/xrender/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/scenes/xrender/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/plugins/scenes/xrender/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/scenes/xrender/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 add_library(KWinSceneXRender MODULE ${SCENE_XRENDER_SRCS})
 target_link_libraries(KWinSceneXRender
     kwin
+    kwinxrenderutils
 )
 
 install(
diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 #include "workspace.h"
 // kwin libs
 #include <kwinglplatform.h>
-#include <kwinxrenderutils.h>
 // kwin
 #ifdef KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
 #include "activities.h"
@@ -183,10 +182,6 @@
     TabBox::TabBox::create(this);
 #endif
 
-    // init XRenderUtils
-    if (kwinApp()->operationMode() == Application::OperationModeX11) {
-        XRenderUtils::init(connection(), rootWindow());
-    }
     if (Compositor::self()) {
         m_compositor = Compositor::self();
     } else {
@@ -514,9 +509,6 @@
 
     // TODO: ungrabXServer();
 
-    if (kwinApp()->operationMode() == Application::OperationModeX11) {
-        XRenderUtils::cleanup();
-    }
     Xcb::Extensions::destroy();
     _self = 0;
 }