diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index a0d08e31ac..556d005d63 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ Major new features in 2.8 release
 
 All:
 
-- Fixed bug with default proxy destruction in wxURL (Axel Gembe)
+- Fixed bug with default proxy destruction in wxURL (Axel Gembe).
 
 All (GUI):
 
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ wxGTK:
 - wxSystemSettings::GetColour(wxSYS_COLOUR_WINDOW) now returns the background
   colour of text controls.
 - wxFrame::ShowFullScreen now preserves the menubar's accelerators.
+- Implemented wxGetClientDisplayRect() correctly for wxGTK and X11-based ports.
 
 wxMac:
 
diff --git a/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp b/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
index bb1c1b4195..efc330f45c 100644
--- a/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
@@ -149,17 +149,6 @@ void wxDisplaySizeMM( int *width, int *height )
     if (height) *height = gdk_screen_height_mm();
 }
 
-void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
-{
-    // This is supposed to return desktop dimensions minus any window
-    // manager panels, menus, taskbars, etc.  If there is a way to do that
-    // for this platform please fix this function, otherwise it defaults
-    // to the entire desktop.
-    if (x) *x = 0;
-    if (y) *y = 0;
-    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
-}
-
 void wxGetMousePosition( int* x, int* y )
 {
     gdk_window_get_pointer( (GdkWindow*) NULL, x, y, (GdkModifierType*) NULL );
diff --git a/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp b/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
index 3439ce69e6..de3153f76b 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
@@ -103,17 +103,6 @@ void wxDisplaySizeMM( int *width, int *height )
     if (height) *height = gdk_screen_height_mm();
 }
 
-void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
-{
-    // This is supposed to return desktop dimensions minus any window
-    // manager panels, menus, taskbars, etc.  If there is a way to do that
-    // for this platform please fix this function, otherwise it defaults
-    // to the entire desktop.
-    if (x) *x = 0;
-    if (y) *y = 0;
-    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
-}
-
 void wxGetMousePosition( int* x, int* y )
 {
     gdk_window_get_pointer( (GdkWindow*) NULL, x, y, (GdkModifierType*) NULL );
diff --git a/src/motif/utils.cpp b/src/motif/utils.cpp
index c3b452d42b..a8257298f6 100644
--- a/src/motif/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/motif/utils.cpp
@@ -557,18 +557,6 @@ void wxDisplaySizeMM(int *width, int *height)
         *height = DisplayHeightMM(dpy, DefaultScreen (dpy));
 }
 
-void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
-{
-    // This is supposed to return desktop dimensions minus any window
-    // manager panels, menus, taskbars, etc.  If there is a way to do that
-    // for this platform please fix this function, otherwise it defaults
-    // to the entire desktop.
-    if (x) *x = 0;
-    if (y) *y = 0;
-    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
-}
-
-
 // Configurable display in wxX11 and wxMotif
 static WXDisplay *gs_currentDisplay = NULL;
 static wxString gs_displayName;
diff --git a/src/unix/displayx11.cpp b/src/unix/displayx11.cpp
index f08b0bdcae..cce24221cc 100644
--- a/src/unix/displayx11.cpp
+++ b/src/unix/displayx11.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,14 @@ public:
     }
 
     virtual wxRect GetGeometry() const { return m_rect; }
+    virtual wxRect GetClientArea() const
+    {
+        // we intentionally don't cache the result here because the client
+        // display area may change (e.g. the user resized or hid a panel) and
+        // we don't currently react to its changes
+        return IsPrimary() ? wxGetClientDisplayRect() : m_rect;
+    }
+
     virtual wxString GetName() const { return wxString(); }
 
     virtual wxArrayVideoModes GetModes(const wxVideoMode& mode) const;
@@ -315,3 +323,102 @@ bool wxDisplayImplX11::ChangeMode(const wxVideoMode& WXUNUSED(mode))
 }
 
 #endif /* wxUSE_DISPLAY */
+
+#if defined(__WXGTK__) || defined(__X__)
+
+#include "wx/utils.h"
+
+#include <X11/Xatom.h>
+
+// TODO: make this a full-fledged class and move to a public header
+class wxX11Ptr
+{
+public:
+    wxX11Ptr(void *ptr = NULL) : m_ptr(ptr) { }
+    ~wxX11Ptr() { if ( m_ptr ) XFree(m_ptr); }
+
+private:
+    void *m_ptr;
+
+    DECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxX11Ptr)
+};
+
+// NB: this function is implemented using X11 and not GDK calls as it's shared
+//     by wxGTK[12], wxX11 and wxMotif ports
+void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
+{
+    Display * const dpy = (Display *)wxGetDisplay();
+    wxCHECK_RET( dpy, _T("can't be called before initializing the GUI") );
+
+    const Atom atomWorkArea = XInternAtom(dpy, "_NET_WORKAREA", True);
+    if ( atomWorkArea )
+    {
+        long *workareas = NULL;
+        unsigned long numItems;
+        unsigned long bytesRemaining;
+        Atom actualType;
+        int format;
+
+        if ( XGetWindowProperty
+             (
+                dpy,
+                XDefaultRootWindow(dpy),
+                atomWorkArea,
+                0,                          // offset of data to retrieve
+                4,                          // number of items to retrieve
+                False,                      // don't delete property
+                XA_CARDINAL,                // type of the items to get
+                &actualType,
+                &format,
+                &numItems,
+                &bytesRemaining,
+                (unsigned char **)&workareas
+             ) == Success && workareas )
+        {
+            wxX11Ptr x11ptr(workareas); // ensure it will be freed
+
+            // check that we retrieved the property of the expected type and
+            // that we did get back 4 longs (32 is the format for long), as
+            // requested
+            if ( actualType != XA_CARDINAL ||
+                    format != 32 ||
+                        numItems != 4 )
+            {
+                wxLogDebug(_T("XGetWindowProperty(\"_NET_WORKAREA\") failed"));
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if ( x )
+                *x = workareas[0];
+            if ( y )
+                *y = workareas[1];
+            if ( width )
+                *width = workareas[2];
+            if ( height )
+                *height = workareas[3];
+
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // if we get here, _NET_WORKAREA is not supported so return the entire
+    // screen size as fall back
+    if (x)
+        *x = 0;
+    if (y)
+        *y = 0;
+    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
+}
+
+#else // !(wxGTK or X)
+
+void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
+{
+    if (x)
+        *x = 0;
+    if (y)
+        *y = 0;
+    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
+}
+
+#endif // wxGTK or X
diff --git a/src/x11/utils.cpp b/src/x11/utils.cpp
index 80e3fcacda..1b643c492f 100644
--- a/src/x11/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/utils.cpp
@@ -229,17 +229,6 @@ void wxDisplaySizeMM(int *width, int *height)
         *height = DisplayHeightMM(dpy, DefaultScreen (dpy));
 }
 
-void wxClientDisplayRect(int *x, int *y, int *width, int *height)
-{
-    // This is supposed to return desktop dimensions minus any window
-    // manager panels, menus, taskbars, etc.  If there is a way to do that
-    // for this platform please fix this function, otherwise it defaults
-    // to the entire desktop.
-    if (x) *x = 0;
-    if (y) *y = 0;
-    wxDisplaySize(width, height);
-}
-
 wxWindow* wxFindWindowAtPoint(const wxPoint& pt)
 {
     return wxGenericFindWindowAtPoint(pt);