diff --git a/docs/reference/gtk/running.md b/docs/reference/gtk/running.md
index fc21b617e2..60c3b07cc6 100644
--- a/docs/reference/gtk/running.md
+++ b/docs/reference/gtk/running.md
@@ -211,9 +211,6 @@ are only available when GTK has been configured with `-Ddebug=true`.
 
 A number of options affect behavior instead of logging:
 
-`nograbs`
-: Turn off all pointer and keyboard grabs
-
 `portals`
 : Force the use of [portals](https://docs.flatpak.org/en/latest/portals.html)
 
diff --git a/gdk/gdk.c b/gdk/gdk.c
index 771772e18b..4f89ecf123 100644
--- a/gdk/gdk.c
+++ b/gdk/gdk.c
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ static const GdkDebugKey gdk_debug_keys[] = {
   { "dmabuf",          GDK_DEBUG_DMABUF, "Information about dmabuf buffers" },
   { "offload",         GDK_DEBUG_OFFLOAD, "Information about subsurfaces and graphics offload" },
 
-  { "nograbs",         GDK_DEBUG_NOGRABS, "Disable pointer and keyboard grabs (X11)" },
   { "portals",         GDK_DEBUG_PORTALS, "Force use of portals" },
   { "no-portals",      GDK_DEBUG_NO_PORTALS, "Disable use of portals" },
   { "gl-disable",      GDK_DEBUG_GL_DISABLE, "Disable OpenGL support" },
diff --git a/gdk/gdkdebugprivate.h b/gdk/gdkdebugprivate.h
index 3c56f867ab..dfa26fb0c9 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkdebugprivate.h
+++ b/gdk/gdkdebugprivate.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ typedef enum {
   GDK_DEBUG_OFFLOAD         = 1 << 12,
 
   /* flags below are influencing behavior */
-  GDK_DEBUG_NOGRABS         = 1 << 13,
   GDK_DEBUG_PORTALS         = 1 << 14,
   GDK_DEBUG_NO_PORTALS      = 1 << 15,
   GDK_DEBUG_GL_DISABLE      = 1 << 16,
diff --git a/gdk/x11/gdkdevice-xi2.c b/gdk/x11/gdkdevice-xi2.c
index 4392e078d3..97972071aa 100644
--- a/gdk/x11/gdkdevice-xi2.c
+++ b/gdk/x11/gdkdevice-xi2.c
@@ -333,17 +333,14 @@ gdk_x11_device_xi2_grab (GdkDevice    *device,
                                                         event_mask,
                                                         &mask.mask_len);
 
-  if (gdk_display_get_debug_flags (display) & GDK_DEBUG_NOGRABS)
-    status = GrabSuccess;
-  else
-    status = XIGrabDevice (GDK_DISPLAY_XDISPLAY (display),
-                           device_xi2->device_id,
-                           xwindow,
-                           time_,
-                           xcursor,
-                           GrabModeAsync, GrabModeAsync,
-                           owner_events,
-                           &mask);
+  status = XIGrabDevice (GDK_DISPLAY_XDISPLAY (display),
+                         device_xi2->device_id,
+                         xwindow,
+                         time_,
+                         xcursor,
+                         GrabModeAsync, GrabModeAsync,
+                         owner_events,
+                         &mask);
 
   g_free (mask.mask);