diff --git a/common/atoms.list b/common/atoms.list
index 22656e12..5407cad1 100644
--- a/common/atoms.list
+++ b/common/atoms.list
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ _NET_NUMBER_OF_DESKTOPS
 _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP
 _NET_DESKTOP_NAMES
 _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW
-_NET_WORKAREA
 _NET_DESKTOP_GEOMETRY
 _NET_SUPPORTING_WM_CHECK
 _NET_CLOSE_WINDOW
diff --git a/ewmh.c b/ewmh.c
index 13a6eb26..e970969b 100644
--- a/ewmh.c
+++ b/ewmh.c
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ ewmh_init(int phys_screen)
         _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP,
         _NET_DESKTOP_NAMES,
         _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW,
-        _NET_WORKAREA,
         _NET_DESKTOP_GEOMETRY,
         _NET_CLOSE_WINDOW,
         _NET_WM_NAME,
@@ -214,29 +213,6 @@ ewmh_update_net_desktop_names(int phys_screen)
     buffer_wipe(&buf);
 }
 
-/** Update the work area space for each physical screen and each desktop.
- * \param phys_screen The physical screen id.
- */
-void
-ewmh_update_workarea(int phys_screen)
-{
-    tag_array_t *tags = &globalconf.screens.tab[phys_screen].tags;
-    uint32_t *area = p_alloca(uint32_t, tags->len * 4);
-    area_t geom = screen_area_get(&globalconf.screens.tab[phys_screen], true);
-
-    for(int i = 0; i < tags->len; i++)
-    {
-        area[4 * i + 0] = geom.x;
-        area[4 * i + 1] = geom.y;
-        area[4 * i + 2] = geom.width;
-        area[4 * i + 3] = geom.height;
-    }
-
-    xcb_change_property(globalconf.connection, XCB_PROP_MODE_REPLACE,
-                        xutil_screen_get(globalconf.connection, phys_screen)->root,
-                        _NET_WORKAREA, CARDINAL, 32, tags->len * 4, area);
-}
-
 void
 ewmh_update_net_active_window(int phys_screen)
 {
diff --git a/ewmh.h b/ewmh.h
index 8eea322e..385f259b 100644
--- a/ewmh.h
+++ b/ewmh.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ void ewmh_update_net_client_list_stacking(int);
 void ewmh_client_check_hints(client_t *);
 void ewmh_client_update_hints(client_t *);
 void ewmh_client_update_desktop(client_t *);
-void ewmh_update_workarea(int);
 void ewmh_process_client_strut(client_t *, xcb_get_property_reply_t *);
 void ewmh_update_strut(xcb_window_t, strut_t *);
 xcb_get_property_cookie_t ewmh_window_icon_get_unchecked(xcb_window_t);
diff --git a/tag.c b/tag.c
index e271d97b..b1de268a 100644
--- a/tag.c
+++ b/tag.c
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ tag_append_to_screen(lua_State *L, int udx, screen_t *s)
     tag_array_append(&s->tags, luaA_object_ref_class(globalconf.L, udx, &tag_class));
     ewmh_update_net_numbers_of_desktop(phys_screen);
     ewmh_update_net_desktop_names(phys_screen);
-    ewmh_update_workarea(phys_screen);
 
     luaA_object_push(globalconf.L, tag);
     luaA_object_emit_signal(L, -1, "property::screen", 0);
@@ -172,7 +171,6 @@ tag_remove_from_screen(tag_t *tag)
 
     ewmh_update_net_numbers_of_desktop(phys_screen);
     ewmh_update_net_desktop_names(phys_screen);
-    ewmh_update_workarea(phys_screen);
 
     /* call hook */
     if(globalconf.hooks.tags != LUA_REFNIL)