diff --git a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
index d63f41ed87..49c833d226 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
+++ b/libs/canvas/canvas/item.h
@@ -269,10 +269,6 @@ public:
 	std::string whoami() const { return whatami(); }
 #endif
 
-#ifdef CANVAS_COMPATIBILITY
-	void grab_focus ();
-#endif
-
 	const std::string& tooltip () const { return _tooltip; }
 	void set_tooltip (const std::string&);
 
diff --git a/libs/canvas/item.cc b/libs/canvas/item.cc
index 8086b6e2ce..09ef6aa2c6 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/item.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/item.cc
@@ -599,12 +599,6 @@ Item::is_descendant_of (const Item& candidate) const
 	return false;
 }
 
-void
-Item::grab_focus ()
-{
-	/* XXX */
-}
-
 void
 Item::size_allocate (Rect const & r)
 {