diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
index 5fe6a3ccbc..b7fb77e1c6 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 */
 #include "virtual_backend.h"
 
-#include "composite.h"
 #include "virtual_egl_backend.h"
 #include "virtual_output.h"
 #include "virtual_qpainter_backend.h"
@@ -106,14 +105,4 @@ void VirtualBackend::setVirtualOutputs(int count, QVector<QRect> geometries, QVe
     Q_EMIT outputsQueried();
 }
 
-QImage VirtualBackend::captureOutput(Output *output) const
-{
-    if (auto backend = qobject_cast<VirtualQPainterBackend *>(Compositor::self()->backend())) {
-        if (auto layer = backend->primaryLayer(output)) {
-            return *layer->image();
-        }
-    }
-    return QImage();
-}
-
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
index 66e83e6a8f..a4e0b0d36a 100644
--- a/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
+++ b/src/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ public:
         return QVector<CompositingType>{OpenGLCompositing, QPainterCompositing};
     }
 
-    Q_INVOKABLE QImage captureOutput(Output *output) const;
-
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void virtualOutputsSet(bool countChanged);