diff --git a/DOCS/man/en/options.rst b/DOCS/man/en/options.rst
index e4ecf1e6ee..38a615ea72 100644
--- a/DOCS/man/en/options.rst
+++ b/DOCS/man/en/options.rst
@@ -463,15 +463,6 @@
     Force demuxer type. Use a '+' before the name to force it, this will skip
     some checks! Give the demuxer name as printed by ``--demuxer=help``.
 
---display=<name>
-    (X11 only)
-    Specify the hostname and display number of the X server you want to
-    display on.
-
-    *EXAMPLE*:
-
-    ``--display=xtest.localdomain:0``
-
 --doubleclick-time=<milliseconds>
     Time in milliseconds to recognize two consecutive button presses as a
     double-click (default: 300).
diff --git a/core/cfg-mplayer.h b/core/cfg-mplayer.h
index aa5e8d66de..0e403e0769 100644
--- a/core/cfg-mplayer.h
+++ b/core/cfg-mplayer.h
@@ -576,10 +576,6 @@ const m_option_t mplayer_opts[]={
 
     {"edlout", &edl_output_filename,  CONF_TYPE_STRING, 0, 0, 0, NULL},
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_X11
-    {"display", &mDisplayName, CONF_TYPE_STRING, 0, 0, 0, NULL},
-#endif
-
     // force window width/height or resolution (with -vm)
     OPT_INTRANGE("x", screen_size_x, 0, 0, 4096),
     OPT_INTRANGE("y", screen_size_y, 0, 0, 4096),
diff --git a/video/out/x11_common.c b/video/out/x11_common.c
index 19094f24cd..05fae825fc 100644
--- a/video/out/x11_common.c
+++ b/video/out/x11_common.c
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ int stop_xscreensaver = 1;
 
 static int dpms_disabled = 0;
 
-char *mDisplayName = NULL;
-
 char **vo_fstype_list;
 
 /* 1 means that the WM is metacity (broken as hell) */
@@ -410,13 +408,7 @@ int vo_init(struct vo *vo)
 
     XSetErrorHandler(x11_errorhandler);
 
-#if 0
-    if (!mDisplayName)
-        if (!(mDisplayName = getenv("DISPLAY")))
-            mDisplayName = strdup(":0.0");
-#else
-    dispName = XDisplayName(mDisplayName);
-#endif
+    dispName = XDisplayName(NULL);
 
     mp_msg(MSGT_VO, MSGL_V, "X11 opening display: %s\n", dispName);
 
diff --git a/video/out/x11_common.h b/video/out/x11_common.h
index cb8b39a3b1..a968724842 100644
--- a/video/out/x11_common.h
+++ b/video/out/x11_common.h
@@ -115,8 +115,6 @@ extern int metacity_hack;
 
 extern char** vo_fstype_list;
 
-extern char *mDisplayName;
-
 struct vo_x11_state *vo_x11_init_state(void);
 int vo_init(struct vo *vo);
 void vo_uninit(struct vo_x11_state *x11);