diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
index 2e260244d..2436545a8 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.c
@@ -69,13 +69,6 @@
 #include "clutter-stage-private.h"
 #include "clutter-backend-private.h"
 
-#ifdef CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11
-#include "x11/clutter-backend-x11.h"
-#endif
-#ifdef CLUTTER_WINDOWING_EGL
-#include "egl/clutter-backend-eglnative.h"
-#endif
-
 #include <cogl/cogl.h>
 #include <cogl-pango/cogl-pango.h>
 
@@ -2443,58 +2436,6 @@ _clutter_context_get_pick_mode (void)
   return context->pick_mode;
 }
 
-/**
- * clutter_check_windowing_backend:
- * @backend_type: the name of the backend to check
- *
- * Checks the run-time name of the Clutter windowing system backend, using
- * the symbolic macros like %CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11.
- *
- * This function should be used in conjuction with the compile-time macros
- * inside applications and libraries that are using the platform-specific
- * windowing system API, to ensure that they are running on the correct
- * windowing system; for instance:
- *
- * |[
- * #ifdef CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11
- *   if (clutter_check_windowing_backend (CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11))
- *     {
- *       // it is safe to use the clutter_x11_* API
- *     }
- *   else
- * #endif
- *     g_error ("Unknown Clutter backend.");
- * ]|
- *
- * Return value: %TRUE if the current Clutter windowing system backend is
- *   the one checked, and %FALSE otherwise
- *
- * Since: 1.10
- */
-gboolean
-clutter_check_windowing_backend (const char *backend_type)
-{
-  ClutterMainContext *context = _clutter_context_get_default ();
-
-  g_return_val_if_fail (backend_type != NULL, FALSE);
-
-  backend_type = g_intern_string (backend_type);
-
-#ifdef CLUTTER_WINDOWING_EGL
-  if (backend_type == I_(CLUTTER_WINDOWING_EGL) &&
-      CLUTTER_IS_BACKEND_EGL_NATIVE (context->backend))
-    return TRUE;
-  else
-#endif
-#ifdef CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11
-  if (backend_type == I_(CLUTTER_WINDOWING_X11) &&
-      CLUTTER_IS_BACKEND_X11 (context->backend))
-    return TRUE;
-  else
-#endif
-  return FALSE;
-}
-
 /**
  * clutter_add_debug_flags: (skip)
  *
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.h
index 32653f61a..2523f73da 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-main.h
@@ -194,9 +194,6 @@ ClutterTextDirection    clutter_get_default_text_direction      (void);
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 guint                   clutter_get_default_frame_rate          (void);
 
-CLUTTER_EXPORT
-gboolean                clutter_check_windowing_backend         (const char *backend_type);
-
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 void                    clutter_add_debug_flags                 (ClutterDebugFlag     debug_flags,
                                                                  ClutterDrawDebugFlag draw_flags,