diff --git a/src/deleted.cpp b/src/deleted.cpp
index 1b7de55728..d3f00d09dc 100644
--- a/src/deleted.cpp
+++ b/src/deleted.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ Deleted::~Deleted()
     if (workspace()) {
         workspace()->removeDeleted(this);
     }
-    deleteEffectWindow();
     deleteItem();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/effects.cpp b/src/effects.cpp
index bd7e6ddf78..c4e97916f3 100644
--- a/src/effects.cpp
+++ b/src/effects.cpp
@@ -1990,8 +1990,7 @@ EffectScreen::Transform EffectScreenImpl::transform() const
 //****************************************
 
 EffectWindowImpl::EffectWindowImpl(Window *window)
-    : EffectWindow(window)
-    , m_window(window)
+    : m_window(window)
     , m_windowItem(nullptr)
 {
     // Deleted windows are not managed. So, when windowClosed signal is
diff --git a/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.cpp b/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.cpp
index 0c0b3c6dc6..97f7b48203 100644
--- a/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.cpp
+++ b/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.cpp
@@ -748,9 +748,8 @@ EffectWindow::Private::Private(EffectWindow *q)
 {
 }
 
-EffectWindow::EffectWindow(QObject *parent)
-    : QObject(parent)
-    , d(new Private(this))
+EffectWindow::EffectWindow()
+    : d(new Private(this))
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h b/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
index 194a20cf04..0768016cd9 100644
--- a/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
+++ b/src/libkwineffects/kwineffects.h
@@ -2366,7 +2366,7 @@ public:
         PAINT_DISABLED_BY_ACTIVITY = 1 << 5
     };
 
-    explicit EffectWindow(QObject *parent = nullptr);
+    explicit EffectWindow();
     ~EffectWindow() override;
 
     Q_SCRIPTABLE virtual void addRepaint(const QRect &r) = 0;
diff --git a/src/window.cpp b/src/window.cpp
index 8907dc895c..1b83ad3917 100644
--- a/src/window.cpp
+++ b/src/window.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ Window::Window()
     , m_internalId(QUuid::createUuid())
     , m_client()
     , is_shape(false)
-    , m_effectWindow(nullptr)
     , m_clientMachine(new ClientMachine(this))
     , m_wmClientLeader(XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
     , m_skipCloseAnimation(false)
@@ -186,7 +185,7 @@ void Window::copyToDeleted(Window *c)
     m_client.reset(c->m_client, false);
     ready_for_painting = c->ready_for_painting;
     is_shape = c->is_shape;
-    m_effectWindow = std::exchange(c->m_effectWindow, nullptr);
+    m_effectWindow = std::move(c->m_effectWindow);
     if (m_effectWindow != nullptr) {
         m_effectWindow->setWindow(this);
     }
@@ -346,7 +345,7 @@ bool Window::setupCompositing()
         return false;
     }
 
-    m_effectWindow = new EffectWindowImpl(this);
+    m_effectWindow = std::make_unique<EffectWindowImpl>(this);
     updateShadow();
 
     m_windowItem = createItem(scene);
@@ -367,7 +366,7 @@ void Window::finishCompositing(ReleaseReason releaseReason)
         }
     }
     m_shadow.reset();
-    deleteEffectWindow();
+    m_effectWindow.reset();
     deleteItem();
 }
 
@@ -400,12 +399,6 @@ void Window::setReadyForPainting()
     }
 }
 
-void Window::deleteEffectWindow()
-{
-    delete m_effectWindow;
-    m_effectWindow = nullptr;
-}
-
 void Window::deleteItem()
 {
     delete m_windowItem;
diff --git a/src/window.h b/src/window.h
index 0b103c01c7..bd23adc66e 100644
--- a/src/window.h
+++ b/src/window.h
@@ -1590,7 +1590,6 @@ protected:
     void getSkipCloseAnimation();
     void copyToDeleted(Window *c);
     void disownDataPassedToDeleted();
-    void deleteEffectWindow();
     void setDepth(int depth);
 
     Output *m_output = nullptr;
@@ -1919,7 +1918,7 @@ private:
     QUuid m_internalId;
     Xcb::Window m_client;
     bool is_shape;
-    EffectWindowImpl *m_effectWindow;
+    std::unique_ptr<EffectWindowImpl> m_effectWindow;
     WindowItem *m_windowItem = nullptr;
     std::unique_ptr<Shadow> m_shadow;
     QString resource_name;
@@ -2256,12 +2255,12 @@ inline const QRegion &Window::opaqueRegion() const
 
 inline EffectWindowImpl *Window::effectWindow()
 {
-    return m_effectWindow;
+    return m_effectWindow.get();
 }
 
 inline const EffectWindowImpl *Window::effectWindow() const
 {
-    return m_effectWindow;
+    return m_effectWindow.get();
 }
 
 inline WindowItem *Window::windowItem() const