diff --git a/clients/modernsystem/CMakeLists.txt b/clients/modernsystem/CMakeLists.txt
index d2396ae0d9..11200c8721 100644
--- a/clients/modernsystem/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/clients/modernsystem/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ set(kwin3_modernsys_PART_SRCS modernsys.cpp)
 
 kde4_add_plugin(kwin3_modernsys ${kwin3_modernsys_PART_SRCS})
 
-target_link_libraries(kwin3_modernsys ${KDE4_KDEFX_LIBS} kdecorations ${QT_QTGUI_LIBRARY})
+target_link_libraries(kwin3_modernsys kdecorations ${QT_QTGUI_LIBRARY})
 
 install(TARGETS kwin3_modernsys  DESTINATION ${PLUGIN_INSTALL_DIR})
 
diff --git a/clients/modernsystem/modernsys.cpp b/clients/modernsystem/modernsys.cpp
index b469751107..15f45ef55b 100644
--- a/clients/modernsystem/modernsys.cpp
+++ b/clients/modernsystem/modernsys.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 //Added by qt3to4:
 #include <QPixmap>
 #include <QPaintEvent>
-#include <kpixmapeffect.h>
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QBitmap>
 
@@ -165,6 +164,15 @@ static void make_button_fx(const QPalette &g, QPixmap *pix, bool light=false)
     }
 }
 
+static void gradientFill(QPixmap *pixmap, const QColor &color1, const QColor &color2)
+{
+	QPainter p(pixmap);
+	QLinearGradient gradient(0, 0, 0, pixmap->height());
+	gradient.setColorAt(0.0, color1);
+	gradient.setColorAt(1.0, color2);
+	QBrush brush(gradient);
+	p.fillRect(pixmap->rect(), brush);
+}
 
 static void create_pixmaps()
 {
@@ -181,14 +189,12 @@ static void create_pixmaps()
     if(QPixmap::defaultDepth() > 8){
         aUpperGradient = new QPixmap( 32, title_height+2 );
         iUpperGradient = new QPixmap( 32, title_height+2);;
-        KPixmapEffect::gradient(*aUpperGradient,
-                                options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBar, true).light(130),
-                                options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBlend, true),
-                                KPixmapEffect::VerticalGradient);
-        KPixmapEffect::gradient(*iUpperGradient,
-                                options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBar, false).light(130),
-                                options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBlend, false),
-                                KPixmapEffect::VerticalGradient);
+        gradientFill(aUpperGradient,
+                     options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBar, true).light(130),
+                     options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBlend, true));
+        gradientFill(iUpperGradient,
+                     options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBar, false).light(130),
+                     options()->color(KDecoration::ColorTitleBlend, false));
     }
     // buttons
     QPalette btnColor(options()->palette(KDecoration::ColorButtonBg, true) );