diff --git a/i3ipc/_private/sync.py b/i3ipc/_private/sync.py
index a568e30..6978a78 100644
--- a/i3ipc/_private/sync.py
+++ b/i3ipc/_private/sync.py
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
-from Xlib import display
-from Xlib.protocol import event
-from Xlib import X
 import random
 
-
 class Synchronizer:
     def __init__(self):
         self.display = display.Display()
diff --git a/i3ipc/aio/connection.py b/i3ipc/aio/connection.py
index cdbf2c9..4755853 100644
--- a/i3ipc/aio/connection.py
+++ b/i3ipc/aio/connection.py
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 import os
 import json
 from typing import Optional, List, Tuple, Callable, Union
-from Xlib import display, X
-from Xlib.error import DisplayError
 import struct
 import socket
 import logging
@@ -203,22 +201,6 @@ def exists(path):
         if exists(socket_path):
             return socket_path
 
-    # next try the root window property
-    try:
-        d = display.Display()
-        atom = d.get_atom('I3_SOCKET_PATH')
-        root = d.screen().root
-        prop = root.get_full_property(atom, X.AnyPropertyType)
-        if prop and prop.value:
-            socket_path = prop.value.decode()
-    except DisplayError as e:
-        logger.info('could not get i3 socket path from root atom', exc_info=e)
-
-    if socket_path:
-        logger.info('got socket path from root atom: %s', socket_path)
-        if exists(socket_path):
-            return socket_path
-
     # finally try the binaries
     for binary in ('i3', 'sway'):
         try:
diff --git a/i3ipc/connection.py b/i3ipc/connection.py
index 978e962..50d3d44 100644
--- a/i3ipc/connection.py
+++ b/i3ipc/connection.py
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@
 import os
 from threading import Timer, Lock
 import time
-import Xlib
-import Xlib.display
-from Xlib.error import DisplayError
 import logging
 from subprocess import run, PIPE
 
@@ -86,20 +83,6 @@ def _find_socket_path(self):
             logger.info('got socket path from SWAYSOCK env variable: %s', socket_path)
             return socket_path
 
-        try:
-            disp = Xlib.display.Display()
-            root = disp.screen().root
-            i3atom = disp.intern_atom("I3_SOCKET_PATH")
-            prop = root.get_full_property(i3atom, Xlib.X.AnyPropertyType)
-            if prop and prop.value:
-                socket_path = prop.value.decode()
-        except DisplayError as e:
-            logger.info('could not get i3 socket path from root atom', exc_info=e)
-
-        if socket_path:
-            logger.info('got socket path from root atom: %s', socket_path)
-            return socket_path
-
         for binary in ('i3', 'sway'):
             try:
                 process = run([binary, '--get-socketpath'], stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE)
@@ -116,7 +99,7 @@ def _find_socket_path(self):
                 logger.info('could not get i3 socket path from `%s` binary', binary, exc_info=e)
                 continue
 
-        logger.info('could not find i3 socket path')
+        logger.info('could not find i3/sway socket path')
         return None
 
     def _sync(self):
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ff97f03..8b7264c 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
 REQUIRES_PYTHON = '>=3.4.0'
-REQUIRED = ['python-xlib']
+REQUIRED = []
 EXTRAS = {}
 
 here = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
diff --git a/test/aio/window.py b/test/aio/window.py
index aed6cc7..c51b470 100644
--- a/test/aio/window.py
+++ b/test/aio/window.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from Xlib.display import Display
 from threading import Thread
 
-
 class Window(object):
     def __init__(self, display=None):
         if display is None: