diff --git a/terminatorlib/notebook.py b/terminatorlib/notebook.py
index f3747c1c..3b2e653e 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/notebook.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/notebook.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from factory import Factory
 from container import Container
 from editablelabel import EditableLabel
 from translation import _
-from util import err, dbg, get_top_window, enumerate_descendants
+from util import err, dbg, enumerate_descendants
 
 class Notebook(Container, gtk.Notebook):
     """Class implementing a gtk.Notebook container"""
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Notebook(Container, gtk.Notebook):
     def newtab(self, debugtab=False, widget=None, cwd=None):
         """Add a new tab, optionally supplying a child widget"""
         maker = Factory()
-        top_window = get_top_window(self)
+        top_window = self.get_toplevel()
 
         if not widget:
             widget = maker.make('Terminal')
diff --git a/terminatorlib/paned.py b/terminatorlib/paned.py
index 5c43d00d..1b300450 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/paned.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/paned.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ variants"""
 import gobject
 import gtk
 
-from util import dbg, err, get_top_window
+from util import dbg, err
 from terminator import Terminator
 from factory import Factory
 from container import Container
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class Paned(Container):
             raise ValueError('Paned widgets can only have two children')
 
         if maker.isinstance(widget, 'Terminal'):
-            top_window = get_top_window(self)
+            top_window = self.get_toplevel()
             signals = {'close-term': self.wrapcloseterm,
                     'split-horiz': self.split_horiz,
                     'split-vert': self.split_vert,
diff --git a/terminatorlib/terminal.py b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
index 3d5869c2..40b3f5a2 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/terminal.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/terminal.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import pango
 import subprocess
 import urllib
 
-from util import dbg, err, gerr, get_top_window
+from util import dbg, err, gerr
 import util
 from config import Config
 from cwd import get_default_cwd
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ for %s (%s)' % (name, urlplugin.__class__.__name__))
 
     def ensure_visible_and_focussed(self):
         """Make sure that we're visible and focussed"""
-        window = util.get_top_window(self)
+        window = self.get_toplevel()
         topchild = window.get_child()
         maker = Factory()
 
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ for %s (%s)' % (name, urlplugin.__class__.__name__))
         self.titlebar.update_terminal_size(self.vte.get_column_count(),
                 self.vte.get_row_count())
         if self.vte.window and self.config['geometry_hinting']:
-            window = util.get_top_window(self)
+            window = self.get_toplevel()
             window.set_rough_geometry_hints()
 
     def on_vte_notify_enter(self, term, event):
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ for %s (%s)' % (name, urlplugin.__class__.__name__))
         """Determine if we are a zoomed terminal"""
         prop = None
         parent = self.get_parent()
-        window = get_top_window(self)
+        window = self.get_toplevel()
 
         try:
             prop = window.get_property('term-zoomed')
@@ -1312,7 +1312,7 @@ for %s (%s)' % (name, urlplugin.__class__.__name__))
     def on_beep(self, widget):
         """Set the urgency hint for our window"""
         if self.config['urgent_bell'] == True:
-            window = util.get_top_window(self)
+            window = self.get_toplevel()
             window.set_urgency_hint(True)
         if self.config['icon_bell'] == True:
             self.titlebar.icon_bell()
diff --git a/terminatorlib/util.py b/terminatorlib/util.py
index 872b76d0..c2af1cc4 100755
--- a/terminatorlib/util.py
+++ b/terminatorlib/util.py
@@ -89,14 +89,6 @@ def has_ancestor(widget, wtype):
             return(True)
     return(False)
 
-def get_top_window(widget):
-    """Return the Window instance a widget belongs to"""
-    parent = widget.get_parent()
-    while parent:
-        widget = parent
-        parent = widget.get_parent()
-    return(widget)
-
 def path_lookup(command):
     '''Find a command in our path'''
     if os.path.isabs(command):