diff --git a/deleted.cpp b/deleted.cpp
index d92917b05d..2683e1e900 100644
--- a/deleted.cpp
+++ b/deleted.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Deleted::~Deleted()
     {
     assert( delete_refcount == 0 );
     workspace()->removeDeleted( this, Allowed );
-    delete effectWindow();
+    deleteEffectWindow();
     }
 
 Deleted* Deleted::create( Toplevel* c )
diff --git a/toplevel.h b/toplevel.h
index 9091b6a8e1..3675e82a66 100644
--- a/toplevel.h
+++ b/toplevel.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ class Toplevel
         void copyToDeleted( Toplevel* c );
         void disownDataPassedToDeleted();
         friend kdbgstream& operator<<( kdbgstream& stream, const Toplevel* );
+        void deleteEffectWindow();
         QRect geom;
         Visual* vis;
         int bit_depth;
@@ -393,6 +394,12 @@ inline pid_t Toplevel::pid() const
     return info->pid();
     }
 
+inline void Toplevel::deleteEffectWindow()
+    {
+    delete effect_window;
+    effect_window = NULL;
+    }
+
 kdbgstream& operator<<( kdbgstream& stream, const Toplevel* );
 kdbgstream& operator<<( kdbgstream& stream, const ToplevelList& );
 kdbgstream& operator<<( kdbgstream& stream, const ConstToplevelList& );