diff --git a/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c b/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
index 08835a8f4..f2c6c75db 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
@@ -270,8 +270,7 @@ meta_idle_monitor_init (MetaIdleMonitor *monitor)
  * meta_idle_monitor_get_core:
  *
  * Returns: (transfer none): the #MetaIdleMonitor that tracks the server-global
- * idletime for all devices. To track device-specific idletime,
- * use meta_idle_monitor_get_for_device().
+ * idletime for all devices.
  */
 MetaIdleMonitor *
 meta_idle_monitor_get_core (void)
@@ -283,21 +282,6 @@ meta_idle_monitor_get_core (void)
   return meta_backend_get_idle_monitor (backend, clutter_seat_get_pointer (seat));
 }
 
-/**
- * meta_idle_monitor_get_for_device:
- * @device: the device to get the idle time for.
- *
- * Returns: (transfer none): a new #MetaIdleMonitor that tracks the
- * device-specific idletime for @device. To track server-global idletime
- * for all devices, use meta_idle_monitor_get_core().
- */
-MetaIdleMonitor *
-meta_idle_monitor_get_for_device (ClutterInputDevice *device)
-{
-  MetaBackend *backend = meta_get_backend ();
-  return meta_backend_get_idle_monitor (backend, device);
-}
-
 static guint32
 get_next_watch_serial (void)
 {
diff --git a/src/meta/meta-idle-monitor.h b/src/meta/meta-idle-monitor.h
index 51902a17f..caacd1f79 100644
--- a/src/meta/meta-idle-monitor.h
+++ b/src/meta/meta-idle-monitor.h
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ typedef void (*MetaIdleMonitorWatchFunc) (MetaIdleMonitor *monitor,
 META_EXPORT
 MetaIdleMonitor *meta_idle_monitor_get_core (void);
 
-META_EXPORT
-MetaIdleMonitor *meta_idle_monitor_get_for_device (ClutterInputDevice *device);
-
 META_EXPORT
 guint         meta_idle_monitor_add_idle_watch        (MetaIdleMonitor          *monitor,
 						       guint64                   interval_msec,