diff --git a/glxbackend.cpp b/glxbackend.cpp
index 455da3312f..aff9215ceb 100644
--- a/glxbackend.cpp
+++ b/glxbackend.cpp
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ void GlxBackend::screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size)
 
     XMoveResizeWindow(display(), window, 0, 0, size.width(), size.height());
     overlayWindow()->setup(window);
-    XSync(display(), false);
+    Xcb::sync();
 
     glXMakeCurrent(display(), glxWindow, ctx);
     glViewport(0, 0, size.width(), size.height());
diff --git a/tabbox/tabboxhandler.cpp b/tabbox/tabboxhandler.cpp
index 5c090ff17a..d5e5141fd4 100644
--- a/tabbox/tabboxhandler.cpp
+++ b/tabbox/tabboxhandler.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 // own
 #include "tabboxhandler.h"
 #include <kwinglobals.h>
+#include "xcbutils.h"
 // tabbox
 #include "clientmodel.h"
 #include "declarative.h"
@@ -242,7 +243,7 @@ void TabBoxHandler::show()
         }
     }
     if (d->config.isHighlightWindows()) {
-        XSync(QX11Info::display(), false);
+        Xcb::sync();
         // TODO this should be
         // QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "updateHighlightWindows", Qt::QueuedConnection);
         // but we somehow need to cross > 1 event cycle (likely because of queued invocation in the effects)