diff --git a/gtk/gtksocket.c b/gtk/gtksocket.c
index 3531af47fc..dfb20f001d 100644
--- a/gtk/gtksocket.c
+++ b/gtk/gtksocket.c
@@ -289,32 +289,6 @@ gtk_socket_new (void)
   return GTK_WIDGET (socket);
 }
 
-/**
- * gtk_socket_steal:
- * @socket_: a #GtkSocket
- * @wid: the window ID of an existing toplevel window.
- * 
- * Reparents a pre-existing toplevel window into a #GtkSocket. This is
- * meant to embed clients that do not know about embedding into a
- * #GtkSocket, however doing so is inherently unreliable, and using
- * this function is not recommended.
- *
- * The #GtkSocket must have already be added into a toplevel window
- *  before you can make this call.
- **/
-void           
-gtk_socket_steal (GtkSocket      *socket,
-		  GdkNativeWindow wid)
-{
-  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_SOCKET (socket));
-  g_return_if_fail (GTK_WIDGET_ANCHORED (socket));
-
-  if (!gtk_widget_get_realized (GTK_WIDGET (socket)))
-    gtk_widget_realize (GTK_WIDGET (socket));
-
-  _gtk_socket_add_window (socket, wid, TRUE);
-}
-
 /**
  * gtk_socket_add_id:
  * @socket_: a #GtkSocket
diff --git a/gtk/gtksocket.h b/gtk/gtksocket.h
index db347c06f0..e47533de00 100644
--- a/gtk/gtksocket.h
+++ b/gtk/gtksocket.h
@@ -92,11 +92,6 @@ void            gtk_socket_add_id (GtkSocket       *socket_,
 GdkNativeWindow gtk_socket_get_id (GtkSocket       *socket_);
 GdkWindow*      gtk_socket_get_plug_window (GtkSocket       *socket_);
 
-#ifndef GTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED
-void           gtk_socket_steal    (GtkSocket      *socket_,
-				    GdkNativeWindow wid);
-#endif /* GTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED */
-
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __GTK_SOCKET_H__ */