diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ce38279235..5fa0c4cd67 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ Example:
 Essential dependencies (incomplete list):
 
 - gcc or clang
-- X development headers (xlib, xrandr, xext, xscrnsaver, xinerama, libvdpau,
+- X development headers (xlib, xrandr, xext, xinerama, libvdpau,
   libGL, GLX, EGL, xv, ...)
 - Audio output development headers (libasound/ALSA, pulseaudio)
 - FFmpeg libraries (libavutil libavcodec libavformat libswscale libavfilter
diff --git a/video/out/x11_common.c b/video/out/x11_common.c
index 30ad89746f..41c9d8b00a 100644
--- a/video/out/x11_common.c
+++ b/video/out/x11_common.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <X11/XKBlib.h>
 #include <X11/XF86keysym.h>
 
-#include <X11/extensions/scrnsaver.h>
 #include <X11/extensions/dpms.h>
 #include <X11/extensions/Xinerama.h>
 #include <X11/extensions/Xrandr.h>
@@ -1908,22 +1907,9 @@ static void xscreensaver_heartbeat(struct vo_x11_state *x11)
     {
         x11->screensaver_time_last = time;
         sem_post(&x11->screensaver_sem);
-        XResetScreenSaver(x11->display);
     }
 }
 
-static int xss_suspend(Display *mDisplay, Bool suspend)
-{
-    int event, error, major, minor;
-    if (XScreenSaverQueryExtension(mDisplay, &event, &error) != True ||
-        XScreenSaverQueryVersion(mDisplay, &major, &minor) != True)
-        return 0;
-    if (major < 1 || (major == 1 && minor < 1))
-        return 0;
-    XScreenSaverSuspend(mDisplay, suspend);
-    return 1;
-}
-
 static void set_screensaver(struct vo_x11_state *x11, bool enabled)
 {
     Display *mDisplay = x11->display;
@@ -1931,8 +1917,6 @@ static void set_screensaver(struct vo_x11_state *x11, bool enabled)
         return;
     MP_VERBOSE(x11, "%s screensaver.\n", enabled ? "Enabling" : "Disabling");
     x11->screensaver_enabled = enabled;
-    if (xss_suspend(mDisplay, !enabled))
-        return;
     int nothing;
     if (DPMSQueryExtension(mDisplay, &nothing, &nothing)) {
         BOOL onoff = 0;
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index ad57df9d67..feb20851a3 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -578,7 +578,6 @@ video_output_features = [
         'name': '--x11',
         'desc': 'X11',
         'func': check_pkg_config('x11',         '>= 1.0.0',
-                                 'xscrnsaver',  '>= 1.0.0',
                                  'xext',        '>= 1.0.0',
                                  'xinerama',    '>= 1.0.0',
                                  'xrandr',      '>= 1.2.0'),