diff --git a/src/compton.c b/src/compton.c
index ed51af0b..41192f89 100644
--- a/src/compton.c
+++ b/src/compton.c
@@ -2415,7 +2415,8 @@ destroy_win(session_t *ps, Window id) {
 static inline void
 root_damaged(session_t *ps) {
   if (ps->root_tile_paint.pixmap) {
-    XClearArea(ps->dpy, ps->root, 0, 0, 0, 0, true);
+    xcb_connection_t *c = XGetXCBConnection(ps->dpy);
+    xcb_clear_area(c, true, ps->root, 0, 0, 0, 0);
     free_root_tile(ps);
   }