diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
index ecdfaf711..32e485c6c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor.c
@@ -1093,7 +1093,6 @@ static GQuark quark_scroll = 0;
 static GQuark quark_stage = 0;
 static GQuark quark_destroy = 0;
 static GQuark quark_client = 0;
-static GQuark quark_delete = 0;
 static GQuark quark_touch = 0;
 static GQuark quark_touchpad = 0;
 static GQuark quark_proximity = 0;
@@ -6003,7 +6002,6 @@ clutter_actor_class_init (ClutterActorClass *klass)
   quark_stage = g_quark_from_static_string ("stage");
   quark_destroy = g_quark_from_static_string ("destroy");
   quark_client = g_quark_from_static_string ("client");
-  quark_delete = g_quark_from_static_string ("delete");
   quark_touch = g_quark_from_static_string ("touch");
   quark_touchpad = g_quark_from_static_string ("touchpad");
   quark_proximity = g_quark_from_static_string ("proximity");
@@ -12705,10 +12703,6 @@ clutter_actor_event (ClutterActor       *actor,
       signal_num = -1;
       detail = quark_pad;
       break;
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
-      signal_num = -1;
-      detail = quark_delete;
-      break;
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
       signal_num = -1;
       detail = quark_destroy;
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
index 009d6d671..ce1121d8d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
@@ -857,7 +857,6 @@ typedef enum /*< flags prefix=CLUTTER_EVENT >*/
  * @CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE: Stage state change event
  * @CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY: Destroy notification event
  * @CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE: Client message event
- * @CLUTTER_DELETE: Stage delete event
  * @CLUTTER_TOUCH_BEGIN: A new touch event sequence has started;
  *   event added in 1.10
  * @CLUTTER_TOUCH_UPDATE: A touch event sequence has been updated;
@@ -895,7 +894,6 @@ typedef enum /*< prefix=CLUTTER >*/
   CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE,
   CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY,
   CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE,
-  CLUTTER_DELETE,
   CLUTTER_TOUCH_BEGIN,
   CLUTTER_TOUCH_UPDATE,
   CLUTTER_TOUCH_END,
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
index 9ccc0da1c..0a8e56798 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-event.c
@@ -407,7 +407,6 @@ clutter_event_get_position (const ClutterEvent *event,
     case CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE:
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
     case CLUTTER_EVENT_LAST:
     case CLUTTER_PROXIMITY_IN:
     case CLUTTER_PROXIMITY_OUT:
@@ -481,7 +480,6 @@ clutter_event_set_coords (ClutterEvent *event,
     case CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE:
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
     case CLUTTER_EVENT_LAST:
     case CLUTTER_PROXIMITY_IN:
     case CLUTTER_PROXIMITY_OUT:
@@ -1105,7 +1103,6 @@ clutter_event_set_device (ClutterEvent       *event,
     case CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE:
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
     case CLUTTER_EVENT_LAST:
       break;
 
@@ -1202,7 +1199,6 @@ clutter_event_get_device (const ClutterEvent *event)
     case CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE:
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
     case CLUTTER_EVENT_LAST:
       break;
 
@@ -1725,7 +1721,6 @@ clutter_event_get_axes (const ClutterEvent *event,
     case CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE:
     case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
     case CLUTTER_ENTER:
     case CLUTTER_LEAVE:
     case CLUTTER_KEY_PRESS:
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
index a5fcf8497..2e260244d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
@@ -1760,7 +1760,6 @@ _clutter_process_event_details (ClutterActor        *stage,
         break;
 
       case CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
-      case CLUTTER_DELETE:
         event->any.source = stage;
 
         if (_clutter_event_process_filters (event))
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index f298864da..f2f657e1c 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -545,23 +545,6 @@ queue_full_redraw (ClutterStage *stage)
   clutter_stage_add_redraw_clip (stage, NULL);
 }
 
-static gboolean
-stage_is_default (ClutterStage *stage)
-{
-  ClutterStageManager *stage_manager;
-  ClutterStageWindow *impl;
-
-  stage_manager = clutter_stage_manager_get_default ();
-  if (stage != clutter_stage_manager_get_default_stage (stage_manager))
-    return FALSE;
-
-  impl = _clutter_stage_get_window (stage);
-  if (impl != _clutter_stage_get_default_window ())
-    return FALSE;
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
 static void
 clutter_stage_allocate (ClutterActor           *self,
                         const ClutterActorBox  *box)
@@ -1591,18 +1574,6 @@ _clutter_stage_do_pick (ClutterStage   *stage,
   return actor;
 }
 
-static gboolean
-clutter_stage_real_delete_event (ClutterStage *stage,
-                                 ClutterEvent *event)
-{
-  if (stage_is_default (stage))
-    clutter_main_quit ();
-  else
-    clutter_actor_destroy (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage));
-
-  return CLUTTER_EVENT_STOP;
-}
-
 static void
 clutter_stage_real_apply_transform (ClutterActor *stage,
                                     CoglMatrix   *matrix)
@@ -1878,37 +1849,6 @@ clutter_stage_class_init (ClutterStageClass *klass)
 		  NULL, NULL, NULL,
 		  G_TYPE_NONE, 0);
 
-  /**
-   * ClutterStage::delete-event:
-   * @stage: the stage that received the event
-   * @event: a #ClutterEvent of type %CLUTTER_DELETE
-   *
-   * The ::delete-event signal is emitted when the user closes a
-   * #ClutterStage window using the window controls.
-   *
-   * Clutter by default will call clutter_main_quit() if @stage is
-   * the default stage, and clutter_actor_destroy() for any other
-   * stage.
-   *
-   * It is possible to override the default behaviour by connecting
-   * a new handler and returning %TRUE there.
-   *
-   * This signal is emitted only on Clutter backends that
-   * embed #ClutterStage in native windows. It is not emitted for
-   * backends that use a static frame buffer.
-   *
-   * Since: 1.2
-   */
-  stage_signals[DELETE_EVENT] =
-    g_signal_new (I_("delete-event"),
-                  G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS (gobject_class),
-                  G_SIGNAL_RUN_LAST,
-                  G_STRUCT_OFFSET (ClutterStageClass, delete_event),
-                  _clutter_boolean_handled_accumulator, NULL,
-                  _clutter_marshal_BOOLEAN__BOXED,
-                  G_TYPE_BOOLEAN, 1,
-                  CLUTTER_TYPE_EVENT | G_SIGNAL_TYPE_STATIC_SCOPE);
-
   /**
    * ClutterStage::before-update:
    * @stage: the #ClutterStage
@@ -2030,7 +1970,6 @@ clutter_stage_class_init (ClutterStageClass *klass)
 
   klass->activate = clutter_stage_real_activate;
   klass->deactivate = clutter_stage_real_deactivate;
-  klass->delete_event = clutter_stage_real_delete_event;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2477,18 +2416,6 @@ clutter_stage_event (ClutterStage *stage,
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage), FALSE);
   g_return_val_if_fail (event != NULL, FALSE);
 
-  if (event->type == CLUTTER_DELETE)
-    {
-      gboolean retval = FALSE;
-
-      g_signal_emit_by_name (stage, "event", event, &retval);
-
-      if (!retval)
-        g_signal_emit_by_name (stage, "delete-event", event, &retval);
-
-      return retval;
-    }
-
   if (event->type != CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE)
     return FALSE;
 
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.h
index d797cc56c..604332ff2 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.h
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ struct _ClutterStage
  * ClutterStageClass:
  * @activate: handler for the #ClutterStage::activate signal
  * @deactivate: handler for the #ClutterStage::deactivate signal
- * @delete_event: handler for the #ClutterStage::delete-event signal
  *
  * The #ClutterStageClass structure contains only private data
  *
@@ -81,16 +80,13 @@ struct _ClutterStageClass
   void (* activate)     (ClutterStage *stage);
   void (* deactivate)   (ClutterStage *stage);
 
-  gboolean (* delete_event) (ClutterStage *stage,
-                             ClutterEvent *event);
-
   void (* paint_view) (ClutterStage         *stage,
                        ClutterStageView     *view,
                        const cairo_region_t *redraw_clip);
 
   /*< private >*/
   /* padding for future expansion */
-  gpointer _padding_dummy[30];
+  gpointer _padding_dummy[31];
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-stage-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-stage-x11.c
index 8ebfcacf1..684b711b7 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-stage-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-stage-x11.c
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@
 #include "backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-stage-x11.h"
+#include "backends/x11/nested/meta-stage-x11-nested.h"
 #include "clutter/clutter-mutter.h"
 #include "clutter/x11/clutter-x11.h"
 #include "clutter/x11/clutter-backend-x11.h"
 #include "cogl/cogl.h"
 #include "core/display-private.h"
+#include "meta/main.h"
 #include "meta/meta-x11-errors.h"
 
 #define STAGE_X11_IS_MAPPED(s)  ((((MetaStageX11 *) (s))->wm_state & STAGE_X11_WITHDRAWN) == 0)
@@ -745,9 +747,10 @@ meta_stage_x11_translate_event (MetaStageX11 *stage_x11,
         {
           if (handle_wm_protocols_event (backend_x11, stage_x11, xevent))
             {
-              event->any.type = CLUTTER_DELETE;
-              event->any.stage = stage;
-              res = TRUE;
+              g_return_val_if_fail (META_IS_STAGE_X11_NESTED (stage_x11),
+                                    FALSE);
+              meta_quit (META_EXIT_SUCCESS);
+              res = FALSE;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/core/events.c b/src/core/events.c
index 47b97c328..43b370a59 100644
--- a/src/core/events.c
+++ b/src/core/events.c
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ handle_idletime_for_event (const ClutterEvent *event)
       event->type == CLUTTER_LEAVE ||
       event->type == CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE ||
       event->type == CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY ||
-      event->type == CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE ||
-      event->type == CLUTTER_DELETE)
+      event->type == CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE)
     return;
 
   core_monitor = meta_idle_monitor_get_core ();
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-events.c b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-events.c
index 7cc9a3c3c..bb93978d9 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-events.c
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-events.c
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@ get_event_type_name (const ClutterEvent *event)
     case CLUTTER_MOTION:
       return "MOTION";
 
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
-      return "DELETE";
-
     case CLUTTER_TOUCH_BEGIN:
       return "TOUCH BEGIN";
 
@@ -352,9 +349,6 @@ input_cb (ClutterActor *actor,
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
       g_print ("[%s] CLIENT MESSAGE", clutter_actor_get_name (source_actor));
       break;
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
-      g_print ("[%s] DELETE", clutter_actor_get_name (source_actor));
-      break;
     case CLUTTER_TOUCHPAD_PINCH:
       g_print ("[%s] TOUCHPAD PINCH", clutter_actor_get_name (source_actor));
       break;
diff --git a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-grab.c b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-grab.c
index 317433a6d..fb00e7b00 100644
--- a/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-grab.c
+++ b/src/tests/clutter/interactive/test-grab.c
@@ -66,9 +66,6 @@ debug_event_cb (ClutterActor *actor,
     case CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
       printf("[%s] CLIENT MESSAGE\n", source);
       break;
-    case CLUTTER_DELETE:
-      printf("[%s] DELETE", source);
-      break;
     case CLUTTER_TOUCH_BEGIN:
       g_print ("[%s] TOUCH BEGIN", source);
       break;