diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index 4997a0fea..321480743 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ setup(Display *disp, awesome_config *awesomeconf)
     XSetWindowAttributes wa;
 
     /* init atoms */
-    wmatom[WMProtocols] = XInternAtom(disp, "WM_PROTOCOLS", False);
     wmatom[WMName] = XInternAtom(disp, "WM_NAME", False);
     wmatom[WMState] = XInternAtom(disp, "WM_STATE", False);
     netatom[NetSupported] = XInternAtom(disp, "_NET_SUPPORTED", False);
diff --git a/awesome.h b/awesome.h
index 15ca31e53..ff1d8dbf6 100644
--- a/awesome.h
+++ b/awesome.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ enum
 enum
 { NetSupported, NetWMName, NetLast };   /* EWMH atoms */
 enum
-{ WMProtocols, WMName, WMState, WMLast };     /* default atoms */
+{ WMName, WMState, WMLast };     /* default atoms */
 
 Bool gettextprop(Display *, Window, Atom, char *, unsigned int);   /* return text property, UTF-8 compliant */
 void updatebarpos(Display *, Statusbar);        /* updates the bar position */
diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index dfafe57fd..2599b6ea4 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ uicb_killclient(Display *disp __attribute__ ((unused)),
     {
         ev.type = ClientMessage;
         ev.xclient.window = sel->win;
-        ev.xclient.message_type = wmatom[WMProtocols];
+        ev.xclient.message_type = XInternAtom(disp, "WM_PROTOCOLS", False);
         ev.xclient.format = 32;
         ev.xclient.data.l[0] = XInternAtom(disp, "WM_DELETE_WINDOW", False);
         ev.xclient.data.l[1] = CurrentTime;