diff --git a/doc/reference/meta-sections.txt b/doc/reference/meta-sections.txt
index 7aa893177..22d435034 100644
--- a/doc/reference/meta-sections.txt
+++ b/doc/reference/meta-sections.txt
@@ -96,8 +96,6 @@ meta_compositor_hide_window
 meta_compositor_switch_workspace
 meta_compositor_maximize_window
 meta_compositor_unmaximize_window
-meta_compositor_window_mapped
-meta_compositor_window_unmapped
 meta_compositor_sync_window_geometry
 meta_compositor_set_updates_frozen
 meta_compositor_queue_frame_drawn
diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor.c b/src/compositor/compositor.c
index 1e5d58ddf..e96770838 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor.c
@@ -42,15 +42,6 @@
  * the call, so it may be necessary to readjust the display based on the
  * old_rect to start the animation.
  *
- * meta_compositor_window_mapped() and meta_compositor_window_unmapped() are
- * notifications when the toplevel window (frame or client window) is mapped or
- * unmapped. That is, when the result of meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped()
- * changes. The main use of this is to drop resources when a window is unmapped.
- * A window will always be mapped before meta_compositor_show_window()
- * is called and will not be unmapped until after meta_compositor_hide_window()
- * is called. If the live_hidden_windows preference is set, windows will never
- * be unmapped.
- *
  * # Containers #
  *
  * There's two containers in the stage that are used to place window actors, here
@@ -1272,30 +1263,6 @@ meta_compositor_sync_stack (MetaCompositor  *compositor,
   sync_actor_stacking (info);
 }
 
-void
-meta_compositor_window_mapped (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                               MetaWindow     *window)
-{
-  MetaWindowActor *window_actor = META_WINDOW_ACTOR (meta_window_get_compositor_private (window));
-  DEBUG_TRACE ("meta_compositor_window_mapped\n");
-  if (!window_actor)
-    return;
-
-  meta_window_actor_mapped (window_actor);
-}
-
-void
-meta_compositor_window_unmapped (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                                 MetaWindow     *window)
-{
-  MetaWindowActor *window_actor = META_WINDOW_ACTOR (meta_window_get_compositor_private (window));
-  DEBUG_TRACE ("meta_compositor_window_unmapped\n");
-  if (!window_actor)
-    return;
-
-  meta_window_actor_unmapped (window_actor);
-}
-
 void
 meta_compositor_sync_window_geometry (MetaCompositor *compositor,
 				      MetaWindow *window,
diff --git a/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c b/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
index 8fb621fa4..cd93a0c91 100644
--- a/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/meta-window-actor.c
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ struct _MetaWindowActorPrivate
   GList            *frames;
 
   guint		    visible                : 1;
-  guint		    mapped                 : 1;
   guint		    argb32                 : 1;
   guint		    disposed               : 1;
   guint             redecorating           : 1;
@@ -890,7 +889,7 @@ meta_window_actor_damage_all (MetaWindowActor *self)
 
   texture = meta_shaped_texture_get_texture (META_SHAPED_TEXTURE (priv->actor));
 
-  if (!priv->mapped || priv->needs_pixmap)
+  if (priv->needs_pixmap)
     return;
 
   update_area (self, 0, 0, cogl_texture_get_width (texture), cogl_texture_get_height (texture));
@@ -966,7 +965,7 @@ meta_window_actor_queue_frame_drawn (MetaWindowActor *self,
         {
           queue_send_frame_messages_timeout (self);
         }
-      else if (priv->mapped && !priv->needs_pixmap)
+      else
         {
           const cairo_rectangle_int_t clip = { 0, 0, 1, 1 };
           clutter_actor_queue_redraw_with_clip (priv->actor, &clip);
@@ -998,9 +997,6 @@ meta_window_actor_queue_create_pixmap (MetaWindowActor *self)
 
   priv->needs_pixmap = TRUE;
 
-  if (!priv->mapped)
-    return;
-
   if (is_frozen (self))
     return;
 
@@ -1096,9 +1092,6 @@ meta_window_actor_after_effects (MetaWindowActor *self)
   meta_window_actor_sync_visibility (self);
   meta_window_actor_sync_actor_geometry (self, FALSE);
 
-  if (!meta_window_is_mapped (priv->window))
-    meta_window_actor_detach (self);
-
   if (priv->needs_pixmap)
     clutter_actor_queue_redraw (priv->actor);
 }
@@ -1515,9 +1508,7 @@ meta_window_actor_new (MetaWindow *window)
   priv->last_width = -1;
   priv->last_height = -1;
 
-  priv->mapped = meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (priv->window);
-  if (priv->mapped)
-    meta_window_actor_queue_create_pixmap (self);
+  meta_window_actor_queue_create_pixmap (self);
 
   meta_window_actor_set_updates_frozen (self,
                                         meta_window_updates_are_frozen (priv->window));
@@ -1552,34 +1543,6 @@ meta_window_actor_new (MetaWindow *window)
   return self;
 }
 
-void
-meta_window_actor_mapped (MetaWindowActor *self)
-{
-  MetaWindowActorPrivate *priv = self->priv;
-
-  g_return_if_fail (!priv->mapped);
-
-  priv->mapped = TRUE;
-
-  meta_window_actor_queue_create_pixmap (self);
-}
-
-void
-meta_window_actor_unmapped (MetaWindowActor *self)
-{
-  MetaWindowActorPrivate *priv = self->priv;
-
-  g_return_if_fail (priv->mapped);
-
-  priv->mapped = FALSE;
-
-  if (meta_window_actor_effect_in_progress (self))
-    return;
-
-  meta_window_actor_detach (self);
-  priv->needs_pixmap = FALSE;
-}
-
 #if 0
 /* Print out a region; useful for debugging */
 static void
@@ -1706,9 +1669,6 @@ check_needs_pixmap (MetaWindowActor *self)
   if (!priv->needs_pixmap)
     return;
 
-  if (!priv->mapped)
-    return;
-
   if (xwindow == meta_screen_get_xroot (screen) ||
       xwindow == clutter_x11_get_stage_window (CLUTTER_STAGE (info->stage)))
     return;
@@ -1788,9 +1748,6 @@ check_needs_shadow (MetaWindowActor *self)
   gboolean should_have_shadow;
   gboolean appears_focused;
 
-  if (!priv->mapped)
-    return;
-
   /* Calling meta_window_actor_has_shadow() here at every pre-paint is cheap
    * and avoids the need to explicitly handle window type changes, which
    * we would do if tried to keep track of when we might be adding or removing
@@ -1894,7 +1851,7 @@ meta_window_actor_process_damage (MetaWindowActor    *self,
       return;
     }
 
-  if (!priv->mapped || priv->needs_pixmap)
+  if (priv->needs_pixmap)
     return;
 
   update_area (self, event->area.x, event->area.y, event->area.width, event->area.height);
@@ -2165,9 +2122,6 @@ check_needs_reshape (MetaWindowActor *self)
   MetaFrameBorders borders;
   cairo_rectangle_int_t client_area;
 
-  if (!priv->mapped)
-    return;
-
   if (!priv->needs_reshape)
     return;
 
diff --git a/src/core/display.c b/src/core/display.c
index cfc30ee22..796bca760 100644
--- a/src/core/display.c
+++ b/src/core/display.c
@@ -2746,7 +2746,7 @@ event_callback (XEvent   *event,
 
               if (display->grab_op != META_GRAB_OP_NONE &&
                   display->grab_window == window &&
-                  ((window->frame == NULL) || !window->frame->mapped))
+                  window->frame == NULL)
                 meta_display_end_grab_op (display, timestamp);
       
               if (!frame_was_receiver)
diff --git a/src/core/frame.c b/src/core/frame.c
index 3dda576d7..ed7e3cb59 100644
--- a/src/core/frame.c
+++ b/src/core/frame.c
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ meta_window_ensure_frame (MetaWindow *window)
   frame->right_width = 0;
   frame->current_cursor = 0;
 
-  frame->mapped = FALSE;
   frame->is_flashing = FALSE;
   frame->borders_cached = FALSE;
   
@@ -153,6 +152,8 @@ meta_window_ensure_frame (MetaWindow *window)
 
   /* Move keybindings to frame instead of window */
   meta_window_grab_keys (window);
+
+  meta_ui_map_frame (frame->window->screen->ui, frame->xwindow);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/core/frame.h b/src/core/frame.h
index 0f1ebea4f..8ac1c261e 100644
--- a/src/core/frame.h
+++ b/src/core/frame.h
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ struct _MetaFrame
   int right_width;
   int bottom_height;
 
-  guint mapped : 1;
   guint need_reapply_frame_shape : 1;
   guint is_flashing : 1; /* used by the visual bell flash */
   guint borders_cached : 1;
diff --git a/src/core/window.c b/src/core/window.c
index 8c518e72d..92d4c39fd 100644
--- a/src/core/window.c
+++ b/src/core/window.c
@@ -776,6 +776,35 @@ meta_window_should_attach_to_parent (MetaWindow *window)
     }
 }
 
+static gboolean
+client_window_should_be_mapped (MetaWindow *window)
+{
+  return !window->shaded;
+}
+
+static void
+sync_client_window_mapped (MetaWindow *window)
+{
+  gboolean should_be_mapped = client_window_should_be_mapped (window);
+
+  if (window->mapped == should_be_mapped)
+    return;
+
+  window->mapped = should_be_mapped;
+
+  meta_error_trap_push (window->display);
+  if (should_be_mapped)
+    {
+      XMapWindow (window->display->xdisplay, window->xwindow);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      XUnmapWindow (window->display->xdisplay, window->xwindow);
+      window->unmaps_pending ++;
+    }
+  meta_error_trap_pop (window->display);
+}
+
 MetaWindow*
 meta_window_new (MetaDisplay   *display,
                  Window         xwindow,
@@ -1425,6 +1454,8 @@ meta_window_new (MetaDisplay   *display,
   /* disable show desktop mode unless we're a desktop component */
   maybe_leave_show_desktop_mode (window);
 
+  sync_client_window_mapped (window);
+
   meta_window_queue (window, META_QUEUE_CALC_SHOWING);
   /* See bug 303284; a transient of the given window can already exist, in which
    * case we think it should probably be shown.
@@ -2229,6 +2260,8 @@ implement_showing (MetaWindow *window,
   meta_verbose ("Implement showing = %d for window %s\n",
                 showing, window->desc);
 
+  sync_client_window_mapped (window);
+
   if (!showing)
     {
       /* When we manage a new window, we normally delay placing it
@@ -2817,94 +2850,6 @@ window_would_be_covered (const MetaWindow *newbie)
   return FALSE; /* none found */
 }
 
-static gboolean
-map_frame (MetaWindow *window)
-{
-  if (window->frame && !window->frame->mapped)
-    {
-      meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
-                  "Frame actually needs map\n");
-      window->frame->mapped = TRUE;
-      meta_ui_map_frame (window->screen->ui, window->frame->xwindow);
-      return TRUE;
-    }
-  else
-    return FALSE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-map_client_window (MetaWindow *window)
-{
-  if (!window->mapped)
-    {
-      meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
-                  "%s actually needs map\n", window->desc);
-      window->mapped = TRUE;
-      meta_error_trap_push (window->display);
-      XMapWindow (window->display->xdisplay, window->xwindow);
-      meta_error_trap_pop (window->display);
-
-      return TRUE;
-    }
-  else
-    return FALSE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-unmap_client_window (MetaWindow *window,
-                     const char *reason)
-{
-  if (window->mapped)
-    {
-      meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
-                  "%s actually needs unmap%s\n",
-                  window->desc, reason);
-      meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
-                  "Incrementing unmaps_pending on %s%s\n",
-                  window->desc, reason);
-      window->mapped = FALSE;
-      window->unmaps_pending += 1;
-      meta_error_trap_push (window->display);
-      XUnmapWindow (window->display->xdisplay, window->xwindow);
-      meta_error_trap_pop (window->display);
-
-      return TRUE;
-    }
-  else
-    return FALSE;
-}
-
-/**
- * meta_window_is_mapped:
- * @window: a #MetaWindow
- *
- * Determines whether the X window for the MetaWindow is mapped.
- */
-gboolean
-meta_window_is_mapped (MetaWindow  *window)
-{
-  return window->mapped;
-}
-
-/**
- * meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped:
- * @window: a #MetaWindow
- *
- * Determines whether the toplevel X window for the MetaWindow is
- * mapped. (The frame window is mapped even without the client window
- * when a window is shaded.)
- *
- * Return Value: %TRUE if the toplevel is mapped.
- */
-gboolean
-meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (MetaWindow *window)
-{
-  /* The frame is mapped but not the client window when the window
-   * is shaded.
-   */
-  return window->mapped || (window->frame && window->frame->mapped);
-}
-
 static void
 meta_window_force_placement (MetaWindow *window)
 {
@@ -2943,16 +2888,12 @@ meta_window_show (MetaWindow *window)
   gboolean place_on_top_on_map;
   gboolean needs_stacking_adjustment;
   MetaWindow *focus_window;
-  gboolean toplevel_was_mapped;
-  gboolean toplevel_now_mapped;
   gboolean notify_demands_attention = FALSE;
 
   meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
               "Showing window %s, shaded: %d iconic: %d placed: %d\n",
               window->desc, window->shaded, window->iconic, window->placed);
 
-  toplevel_was_mapped = meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (window);
-
   focus_window = window->display->focus_window;  /* May be NULL! */
   did_show = FALSE;
   window_state_on_map (window, &takes_focus_on_map, &place_on_top_on_map);
@@ -3079,46 +3020,18 @@ meta_window_show (MetaWindow *window)
         }
     }
 
-  /* Shaded means the frame is mapped but the window is not */
-
-  if (map_frame (window))
-    did_show = TRUE;
-
-  if (window->shaded)
+  if (window->hidden)
     {
-      unmap_client_window (window, " (shading)");
-
-      if (!window->iconic)
-        {
-          window->iconic = TRUE;
-          set_wm_state (window);
-        }
-    }
-  else
-    {
-      if (map_client_window (window))
-        did_show = TRUE;
-
-      if (window->hidden)
-        {
-          meta_stack_freeze (window->screen->stack);
-          window->hidden = FALSE;
-          meta_stack_thaw (window->screen->stack);
-          did_show = TRUE;
-        }
-
-      if (window->iconic)
-        {
-          window->iconic = FALSE;
-          set_wm_state (window);
-        }
+      meta_stack_freeze (window->screen->stack);
+      window->hidden = FALSE;
+      meta_stack_thaw (window->screen->stack);
+      did_show = TRUE;
     }
 
-  toplevel_now_mapped = meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (window);
-  if (toplevel_now_mapped != toplevel_was_mapped)
+  if (window->iconic)
     {
-      if (window->display->compositor)
-        meta_compositor_window_mapped (window->display->compositor, window);
+      window->iconic = FALSE;
+      set_wm_state (window);
     }
 
   if (!window->visible_to_compositor)
@@ -3207,14 +3120,10 @@ static void
 meta_window_hide (MetaWindow *window)
 {
   gboolean did_hide;
-  gboolean toplevel_was_mapped;
-  gboolean toplevel_now_mapped;
 
   meta_topic (META_DEBUG_WINDOW_STATE,
               "Hiding window %s\n", window->desc);
 
-  toplevel_was_mapped = meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (window);
-
   if (window->visible_to_compositor)
     {
       window->visible_to_compositor = FALSE;
@@ -3235,19 +3144,12 @@ meta_window_hide (MetaWindow *window)
               break;
             }
 
-          meta_compositor_hide_window (window->display->compositor,
-                                       window, effect);
+          meta_compositor_hide_window (window->display->compositor, window, effect);
         }
     }
 
   did_hide = FALSE;
 
-  /* If this is the first time that we've calculating the showing
-   * state of the window, the frame and client window might not
-   * yet be mapped, so we need to map them now */
-  map_frame (window);
-  map_client_window (window);
-
   if (!window->hidden)
     {
       meta_stack_freeze (window->screen->stack);
@@ -3263,19 +3165,6 @@ meta_window_hide (MetaWindow *window)
       set_wm_state (window);
     }
 
-  toplevel_now_mapped = meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (window);
-  if (toplevel_now_mapped != toplevel_was_mapped)
-    {
-      if (window->display->compositor)
-        {
-          /* As above, we may be *mapping* live hidden windows */
-          if (toplevel_now_mapped)
-            meta_compositor_window_mapped (window->display->compositor, window);
-          else
-            meta_compositor_window_unmapped (window->display->compositor, window);
-        }
-    }
-
   set_net_wm_state (window);
 
   if (did_hide && window->struts)
@@ -7963,7 +7852,7 @@ redraw_icon (MetaWindow *window)
   /* We could probably be smart and just redraw the icon here,
    * instead of the whole frame.
    */
-  if (window->frame && (window->mapped || window->frame->mapped))
+  if (window->frame)
     meta_ui_queue_frame_draw (window->screen->ui, window->frame->xwindow);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/meta/compositor.h b/src/meta/compositor.h
index 42ff0dd8e..45c8b09dd 100644
--- a/src/meta/compositor.h
+++ b/src/meta/compositor.h
@@ -75,11 +75,10 @@ gboolean meta_compositor_filter_keybinding (MetaCompositor *compositor,
                                             MetaScreen     *screen,
                                             MetaKeyBinding *binding);
 
-void meta_compositor_add_window    (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                                    MetaWindow     *window);
-void meta_compositor_remove_window (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                                    MetaWindow     *window);
-
+void meta_compositor_add_window        (MetaCompositor      *compositor,
+                                        MetaWindow          *window);
+void meta_compositor_remove_window     (MetaCompositor      *compositor,
+                                        MetaWindow          *window);
 void meta_compositor_show_window       (MetaCompositor      *compositor,
                                         MetaWindow          *window,
                                         MetaCompEffect       effect);
@@ -101,10 +100,6 @@ void meta_compositor_unmaximize_window (MetaCompositor      *compositor,
                                         MetaRectangle       *old_rect,
                                         MetaRectangle       *new_rect);
 
-void meta_compositor_window_mapped        (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                                           MetaWindow     *window);
-void meta_compositor_window_unmapped      (MetaCompositor *compositor,
-                                           MetaWindow     *window);
 void meta_compositor_sync_window_geometry (MetaCompositor *compositor,
                                            MetaWindow     *window,
                                            gboolean        did_placement);
diff --git a/src/meta/window.h b/src/meta/window.h
index f12d405ac..ed444dd07 100644
--- a/src/meta/window.h
+++ b/src/meta/window.h
@@ -179,8 +179,6 @@ gboolean          meta_window_requested_bypass_compositor (MetaWindow *window);
 gboolean          meta_window_requested_dont_bypass_compositor (MetaWindow *window);
 gint             *meta_window_get_all_monitors (MetaWindow *window, gsize *length);
 
-gboolean meta_window_is_mapped (MetaWindow  *window);
-gboolean meta_window_toplevel_is_mapped (MetaWindow  *window);
 gboolean meta_window_get_icon_geometry (MetaWindow    *window,
                                         MetaRectangle *rect);
 void meta_window_set_icon_geometry (MetaWindow    *window,