diff --git a/overlaywindow.cpp b/overlaywindow.cpp
index 91642786e2..ac697519fd 100644
--- a/overlaywindow.cpp
+++ b/overlaywindow.cpp
@@ -20,26 +20,8 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 #include "overlaywindow.h"
 
-#include "kwinglobals.h"
-#include "screens.h"
-#include "utils.h"
-#include "xcbutils.h"
-
-#include "assert.h"
-
-#include <QVector>
-
-#include <xcb/composite.h>
-#include <xcb/shape.h>
-#if XCB_COMPOSITE_MAJOR_VERSION > 0 || XCB_COMPOSITE_MINOR_VERSION >= 3
-#define KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
-#endif
-
 namespace KWin {
 OverlayWindow::OverlayWindow()
-    : m_visible(true)
-    , m_shown(false)
-    , m_window(XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
 {
 }
 
@@ -47,137 +29,4 @@ OverlayWindow::~OverlayWindow()
 {
 }
 
-bool OverlayWindow::create()
-{
-    assert(m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
-    if (!Xcb::Extensions::self()->isCompositeOverlayAvailable())
-        return false;
-    if (!Xcb::Extensions::self()->isShapeInputAvailable())  // needed in setupOverlay()
-        return false;
-#ifdef KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
-    Xcb::OverlayWindow overlay(rootWindow());
-    if (overlay.isNull()) {
-        return false;
-    }
-    m_window = overlay->overlay_win;
-    if (m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
-        return false;
-    resize(screens()->size());
-    return true;
-#else
-    return false;
-#endif
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::setup(xcb_window_t window)
-{
-    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
-    assert(Xcb::Extensions::self()->isShapeInputAvailable());
-    setNoneBackgroundPixmap(m_window);
-    m_shape = QRegion();
-    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
-    setShape(QRect(0, 0, s.width(), s.height()));
-    if (window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE) {
-        setNoneBackgroundPixmap(window);
-        setupInputShape(window);
-    }
-    const uint32_t eventMask = XCB_EVENT_MASK_VISIBILITY_CHANGE;
-    xcb_change_window_attributes(connection(), m_window, XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK, &eventMask);
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::setupInputShape(xcb_window_t window)
-{
-    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_INPUT, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, window, 0, 0, 0, NULL);
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::setNoneBackgroundPixmap(xcb_window_t window)
-{
-    const uint32_t mask = XCB_BACK_PIXMAP_NONE;
-    xcb_change_window_attributes(connection(), window, XCB_CW_BACK_PIXMAP, &mask);
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::show()
-{
-    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
-    if (m_shown)
-        return;
-    xcb_map_subwindows(connection(), m_window);
-    xcb_map_window(connection(), m_window);
-    m_shown = true;
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::hide()
-{
-    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
-    xcb_unmap_window(connection(), m_window);
-    m_shown = false;
-    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
-    setShape(QRect(0, 0, s.width(), s.height()));
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::setShape(const QRegion& reg)
-{
-    // Avoid setting the same shape again, it causes flicker (apparently it is not a no-op
-    // and triggers something).
-    if (reg == m_shape)
-        return;
-    QVector< QRect > rects = reg.rects();
-    xcb_rectangle_t *xrects = new xcb_rectangle_t[rects.count()];
-    for (int i = 0;
-            i < rects.count();
-            ++i) {
-        xrects[ i ].x = rects[ i ].x();
-        xrects[ i ].y = rects[ i ].y();
-        xrects[ i ].width = rects[ i ].width();
-        xrects[ i ].height = rects[ i ].height();
-    }
-    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_BOUNDING, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED,
-                         m_window, 0, 0, rects.count(), xrects);
-    delete[] xrects;
-    setupInputShape(m_window);
-    m_shape = reg;
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::resize(const QSize &size)
-{
-    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
-    const uint32_t geometry[2] = {
-        static_cast<uint32_t>(size.width()),
-        static_cast<uint32_t>(size.height())
-    };
-    xcb_configure_window(connection(), m_window, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_WIDTH | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_HEIGHT, geometry);
-    setShape(QRegion(0, 0, size.width(), size.height()));
-}
-
-bool OverlayWindow::isVisible() const
-{
-    return m_visible;
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::setVisibility(bool visible)
-{
-    m_visible = visible;
-}
-
-void OverlayWindow::destroy()
-{
-    if (m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
-        return;
-    // reset the overlay shape
-    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
-    xcb_rectangle_t rec = { 0, 0, static_cast<uint16_t>(s.width()), static_cast<uint16_t>(s.height()) };
-    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_BOUNDING, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, m_window, 0, 0, 1, &rec);
-    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_INPUT, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, m_window, 0, 0, 1, &rec);
-#ifdef KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
-    xcb_composite_release_overlay_window(connection(), m_window);
-#endif
-    m_window = XCB_WINDOW_NONE;
-    m_shown = false;
-}
-
-xcb_window_t OverlayWindow::window() const
-{
-    return m_window;
-}
-
 } // namespace KWin
diff --git a/overlaywindow.h b/overlaywindow.h
index e1ec3ec2f5..0afff215d1 100644
--- a/overlaywindow.h
+++ b/overlaywindow.h
@@ -30,28 +30,22 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 namespace KWin {
 class KWIN_EXPORT OverlayWindow {
 public:
-    OverlayWindow();
-    ~OverlayWindow();
+    virtual ~OverlayWindow();
     /// Creates XComposite overlay window, call initOverlay() afterwards
-    bool create();
+    virtual bool create() = 0;
     /// Init overlay and the destination window in it
-    void setup(xcb_window_t window);
-    void show();
-    void hide(); // hides and resets overlay window
-    void setShape(const QRegion& reg);
-    void resize(const QSize &size);
+    virtual void setup(xcb_window_t window) = 0;
+    virtual void show() = 0;
+    virtual void hide() = 0; // hides and resets overlay window
+    virtual void setShape(const QRegion& reg) = 0;
+    virtual void resize(const QSize &size) = 0;
     /// Destroys XComposite overlay window
-    void destroy();
-    xcb_window_t window() const;
-    bool isVisible() const;
-    void setVisibility(bool visible);
-private:
-    void setNoneBackgroundPixmap(xcb_window_t window);
-    void setupInputShape(xcb_window_t window);
-    bool m_visible;
-    bool m_shown; // For showOverlay()
-    QRegion m_shape;
-    xcb_window_t m_window;
+    virtual void destroy() = 0;
+    virtual xcb_window_t window() const = 0;
+    virtual bool isVisible() const = 0;
+    virtual void setVisibility(bool visible) = 0;
+protected:
+    OverlayWindow();
 };
 } // namespace
 
diff --git a/platform.cpp b/platform.cpp
index afd3e65532..91ac210c55 100644
--- a/platform.cpp
+++ b/platform.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "composite.h"
 #include "cursor.h"
 #include "input.h"
+#include "overlaywindow.h"
 #include "pointer_input.h"
 #include "scene_opengl.h"
 #include "screenedge.h"
@@ -460,4 +461,9 @@ void Platform::setupActionForGlobalAccel(QAction *action)
     Q_UNUSED(action)
 }
 
+OverlayWindow *Platform::createOverlayWindow()
+{
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/platform.h b/platform.h
index f27feda837..35392bf5d5 100644
--- a/platform.h
+++ b/platform.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ namespace KWin
 {
 
 class Edge;
+class OverlayWindow;
 class OpenGLBackend;
 class QPainterBackend;
 class Screens;
@@ -301,6 +302,12 @@ public:
         m_initialOutputScale = scale;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates the OverlayWindow required for X11 based compositors.
+     * Default implementation returns @c nullptr.
+     **/
+    virtual OverlayWindow *createOverlayWindow();
+
 public Q_SLOTS:
     void pointerMotion(const QPointF &position, quint32 time);
     void pointerButtonPressed(quint32 button, quint32 time);
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
index 49e23578d0..6eaf518a37 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/common/eglonxbackend.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace KWin
 
 EglOnXBackend::EglOnXBackend(Display *display)
     : AbstractEglBackend()
-    , m_overlayWindow(new OverlayWindow())
+    , m_overlayWindow(kwinApp()->platform()->createOverlayWindow())
     , surfaceHasSubPost(0)
     , m_bufferAge(0)
     , m_usesOverlayWindow(true)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
index 98daa12208..c2cc0191a1 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ set(X11PLATFORM_SOURCES
     x11_platform.cpp
     screens_xrandr.cpp
     windowselector.cpp
+    overlaywindow_x11.cpp
 )
 
 if(X11_Xinput_FOUND)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
index 438052fb40..ee86434c50 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/glxbackend.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "options.h"
 #include "overlaywindow.h"
 #include "composite.h"
+#include "platform.h"
 #include "screens.h"
 #include "xcbutils.h"
 // kwin libs
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ bool SwapEventFilter::event(xcb_generic_event_t *event)
 
 GlxBackend::GlxBackend(Display *display)
     : OpenGLBackend()
-    , m_overlayWindow(new OverlayWindow())
+    , m_overlayWindow(kwinApp()->platform()->createOverlayWindow())
     , window(None)
     , fbconfig(NULL)
     , glxWindow(None)
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c1e4fe9dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/********************************************************************
+ KWin - the KDE window manager
+ This file is part of the KDE project.
+
+Copyright (C) 2011 Arthur Arlt <a.arlt@stud.uni-heidelberg.de>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*********************************************************************/
+
+#include "overlaywindow_x11.h"
+
+#include "kwinglobals.h"
+#include "screens.h"
+#include "utils.h"
+#include "xcbutils.h"
+
+#include "assert.h"
+
+#include <QVector>
+
+#include <xcb/composite.h>
+#include <xcb/shape.h>
+#if XCB_COMPOSITE_MAJOR_VERSION > 0 || XCB_COMPOSITE_MINOR_VERSION >= 3
+#define KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
+#endif
+
+namespace KWin {
+OverlayWindowX11::OverlayWindowX11()
+    : OverlayWindow()
+    , m_visible(true)
+    , m_shown(false)
+    , m_window(XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
+{
+}
+
+OverlayWindowX11::~OverlayWindowX11()
+{
+}
+
+bool OverlayWindowX11::create()
+{
+    assert(m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
+    if (!Xcb::Extensions::self()->isCompositeOverlayAvailable())
+        return false;
+    if (!Xcb::Extensions::self()->isShapeInputAvailable())  // needed in setupOverlay()
+        return false;
+#ifdef KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
+    Xcb::OverlayWindow overlay(rootWindow());
+    if (overlay.isNull()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    m_window = overlay->overlay_win;
+    if (m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
+        return false;
+    resize(screens()->size());
+    return true;
+#else
+    return false;
+#endif
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::setup(xcb_window_t window)
+{
+    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
+    assert(Xcb::Extensions::self()->isShapeInputAvailable());
+    setNoneBackgroundPixmap(m_window);
+    m_shape = QRegion();
+    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
+    setShape(QRect(0, 0, s.width(), s.height()));
+    if (window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE) {
+        setNoneBackgroundPixmap(window);
+        setupInputShape(window);
+    }
+    const uint32_t eventMask = XCB_EVENT_MASK_VISIBILITY_CHANGE;
+    xcb_change_window_attributes(connection(), m_window, XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK, &eventMask);
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::setupInputShape(xcb_window_t window)
+{
+    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_INPUT, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, window, 0, 0, 0, NULL);
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::setNoneBackgroundPixmap(xcb_window_t window)
+{
+    const uint32_t mask = XCB_BACK_PIXMAP_NONE;
+    xcb_change_window_attributes(connection(), window, XCB_CW_BACK_PIXMAP, &mask);
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::show()
+{
+    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
+    if (m_shown)
+        return;
+    xcb_map_subwindows(connection(), m_window);
+    xcb_map_window(connection(), m_window);
+    m_shown = true;
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::hide()
+{
+    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
+    xcb_unmap_window(connection(), m_window);
+    m_shown = false;
+    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
+    setShape(QRect(0, 0, s.width(), s.height()));
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::setShape(const QRegion& reg)
+{
+    // Avoid setting the same shape again, it causes flicker (apparently it is not a no-op
+    // and triggers something).
+    if (reg == m_shape)
+        return;
+    QVector< QRect > rects = reg.rects();
+    xcb_rectangle_t *xrects = new xcb_rectangle_t[rects.count()];
+    for (int i = 0;
+            i < rects.count();
+            ++i) {
+        xrects[ i ].x = rects[ i ].x();
+        xrects[ i ].y = rects[ i ].y();
+        xrects[ i ].width = rects[ i ].width();
+        xrects[ i ].height = rects[ i ].height();
+    }
+    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_BOUNDING, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED,
+                         m_window, 0, 0, rects.count(), xrects);
+    delete[] xrects;
+    setupInputShape(m_window);
+    m_shape = reg;
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::resize(const QSize &size)
+{
+    assert(m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE);
+    const uint32_t geometry[2] = {
+        static_cast<uint32_t>(size.width()),
+        static_cast<uint32_t>(size.height())
+    };
+    xcb_configure_window(connection(), m_window, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_WIDTH | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_HEIGHT, geometry);
+    setShape(QRegion(0, 0, size.width(), size.height()));
+}
+
+bool OverlayWindowX11::isVisible() const
+{
+    return m_visible;
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::setVisibility(bool visible)
+{
+    m_visible = visible;
+}
+
+void OverlayWindowX11::destroy()
+{
+    if (m_window == XCB_WINDOW_NONE)
+        return;
+    // reset the overlay shape
+    const QSize &s = screens()->size();
+    xcb_rectangle_t rec = { 0, 0, static_cast<uint16_t>(s.width()), static_cast<uint16_t>(s.height()) };
+    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_BOUNDING, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, m_window, 0, 0, 1, &rec);
+    xcb_shape_rectangles(connection(), XCB_SHAPE_SO_SET, XCB_SHAPE_SK_INPUT, XCB_CLIP_ORDERING_UNSORTED, m_window, 0, 0, 1, &rec);
+#ifdef KWIN_HAVE_XCOMPOSITE_OVERLAY
+    xcb_composite_release_overlay_window(connection(), m_window);
+#endif
+    m_window = XCB_WINDOW_NONE;
+    m_shown = false;
+}
+
+xcb_window_t OverlayWindowX11::window() const
+{
+    return m_window;
+}
+
+} // namespace KWin
+
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2cb562ae55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/overlaywindow_x11.h
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/********************************************************************
+ KWin - the KDE window manager
+ This file is part of the KDE project.
+
+Copyright (C) 2011 Arthur Arlt <a.arlt@stud.uni-heidelberg.de>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*********************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef KWIN_OVERLAYWINDOW_X11_H
+#define KWIN_OVERLAYWINDOW_X11_H
+
+#include "../../../../overlaywindow.h"
+
+namespace KWin {
+class KWIN_EXPORT OverlayWindowX11 : public OverlayWindow {
+public:
+    OverlayWindowX11();
+    ~OverlayWindowX11();
+    /// Creates XComposite overlay window, call initOverlay() afterwards
+    bool create() override;
+    /// Init overlay and the destination window in it
+    void setup(xcb_window_t window) override;
+    void show() override;
+    void hide() override; // hides and resets overlay window
+    void setShape(const QRegion& reg) override;
+    void resize(const QSize &size) override;
+    /// Destroys XComposite overlay window
+    void destroy() override;
+    xcb_window_t window() const override;
+    bool isVisible() const override;
+    void setVisibility(bool visible) override;
+private:
+    void setNoneBackgroundPixmap(xcb_window_t window);
+    void setupInputShape(xcb_window_t window);
+    bool m_visible;
+    bool m_shown; // For showOverlay()
+    QRegion m_shape;
+    xcb_window_t m_window;
+};
+} // namespace
+
+#endif //KWIN_OVERLAYWINDOW_H
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
index b6a9150c1e..0a938b20e7 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "logging.h"
 #include "screens_xrandr.h"
 #include "options.h"
+#include "overlaywindow_x11.h"
 
 #include <KConfigGroup>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
@@ -309,4 +310,9 @@ void X11StandalonePlatform::setupActionForGlobalAccel(QAction *action)
     });
 }
 
+OverlayWindow *X11StandalonePlatform::createOverlayWindow()
+{
+    return new OverlayWindowX11();
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
index 7fa55261d8..861b2bf10a 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/x11/standalone/x11_platform.h
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ public:
 
     void setupActionForGlobalAccel(QAction *action) override;
 
+    OverlayWindow *createOverlayWindow() override;
+
 protected:
     void doHideCursor() override;
     void doShowCursor() override;
diff --git a/scene_xrender.cpp b/scene_xrender.cpp
index 263c75f14f..ead00b8c5b 100644
--- a/scene_xrender.cpp
+++ b/scene_xrender.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "effects.h"
 #include "main.h"
 #include "overlaywindow.h"
+#include "platform.h"
 #include "xcbutils.h"
 #include "kwinxrenderutils.h"
 #include "decorations/decoratedclient.h"
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ void XRenderBackend::screenGeometryChanged(const QSize &size)
 //****************************************
 X11XRenderBackend::X11XRenderBackend()
     : XRenderBackend()
-    , m_overlayWindow(new OverlayWindow())
+    , m_overlayWindow(kwinApp()->platform()->createOverlayWindow())
     , m_front(XCB_RENDER_PICTURE_NONE)
     , m_format(0)
 {