diff --git a/js/ui/altTab.js b/js/ui/altTab.js
index 0212992be..ae9846552 100644
--- a/js/ui/altTab.js
+++ b/js/ui/altTab.js
@@ -474,12 +474,10 @@ var CyclerList = GObject.registerClass({
     }
 });
 
-var CyclerPopup = GObject.registerClass(
-class CyclerPopup extends SwitcherPopup.SwitcherPopup {
+var CyclerPopup = GObject.registerClass({
+    GTypeFlags: GObject.TypeFlags.ABSTRACT
+}, class CyclerPopup extends SwitcherPopup.SwitcherPopup {
     _init() {
-        if (this.constructor.name === CyclerPopup.prototype.constructor.name)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract class ${this.constructor.name}`);
-
         super._init();
 
         this._items = this._getWindows();
diff --git a/js/ui/switcherPopup.js b/js/ui/switcherPopup.js
index cd0125786..d324a90f4 100644
--- a/js/ui/switcherPopup.js
+++ b/js/ui/switcherPopup.js
@@ -30,12 +30,10 @@ function primaryModifier(mask) {
     return primary;
 }
 
-var SwitcherPopup = GObject.registerClass(
-class SwitcherPopup extends St.Widget {
+var SwitcherPopup = GObject.registerClass({
+    GTypeFlags: GObject.TypeFlags.ABSTRACT
+}, class SwitcherPopup extends St.Widget {
     _init(items) {
-        if (this.constructor.name === SwitcherPopup.prototype.constructor.name)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract class ${this.constructor.name}`);
-
         super._init({ style_class: 'switcher-popup',
                       reactive: true,
                       visible: false });