diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 02ca09b..626d5c3 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
-XVOLKEYS = @xvolkeys@
-
 all:
 	cd libsndio && ${MAKE}
 	cd sndiod && ${MAKE}
 	cd sndioctl && ${MAKE}
 	cd aucat && ${MAKE}
 	cd midicat && ${MAKE}
-	if [ ${XVOLKEYS} = yes ]; then cd xvolkeys && ${MAKE}; fi
 
 install:
 	cd libsndio && ${MAKE} install
@@ -14,10 +11,8 @@ install:
 	cd sndioctl && ${MAKE} install
 	cd aucat && ${MAKE} install
 	cd midicat && ${MAKE} install
-	if [ ${XVOLKEYS} = yes ]; then cd xvolkeys && ${MAKE} install; fi
 
 uninstall:
-	cd xvolkeys && ${MAKE} uninstall
 	cd midicat && ${MAKE} uninstall	
 	cd aucat && ${MAKE} uninstall	
 	cd sndioctl && ${MAKE} uninstall
@@ -31,14 +26,12 @@ clean:
 	cd sndiod && ${MAKE} clean
 	cd libsndio && ${MAKE} clean
 	cd examples && ${MAKE} clean
-	cd xvolkeys && ${MAKE} clean
 
 distclean:	clean
 	rm -f \
 		Makefile aucat/Makefile midicat/Makefile sndiod/Makefile \
 		libsndio/Makefile \
 		sndioctl/Makefile \
-		xvolkeys/Makefile \
 		examples/Makefile \
 		contrib/init.d.sndiod \
 		contrib/sndiod.service
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index bbb706d..22bfbda 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ Usage: configure [options]
 --disable-rmidi			disable character device midi backend
 --enable-umidi			enable usb-midi backend [$umidi]
 --disable-umidi			disable usb-midi backend
---enable-xvolkeys		build xvolkeys utility (requires X) [$xvolkeys]
---disable-xvolkeys		don't build xvolkeys
 --with-libbsd			use the libbsd rather than bsd-compat/*
 --without-libbsd		don't use libbsd
 END
@@ -41,7 +39,6 @@ rmidi=no				# do we want support for raw char dev ?
 umidi=no				# do we want support for umidi ?
 precision=16				# aucat/sndiod arithmetic precision
 user=_sndio				# non-privileged user for sndio daemon
-xvolkeys=yes				# build xvolkeys ?
 libbsd=no				# use libbsd?
 so_ldflags=				# extra linker flags for shared libs
 unset vars				# variables passed as arguments
@@ -160,12 +157,6 @@ for i; do
 	--privsep-user=*)
 		user="${i#--privsep-user=}"
 		shift;;
-	--enable-xvolkeys)
-		xvolkeys=yes
-		shift;;
-	--disable-xvolkeys)
-		xvolkeys=no
-		shift;;
 	--precision=*)
 		precision="${i#--precision=}"
 		if [ "$precision" != 16 -a "$precision" != 24 ]; then
@@ -253,7 +244,6 @@ fi
 for f in Makefile aucat/Makefile midicat/Makefile sndiod/Makefile \
 libsndio/Makefile \
 sndioctl/Makefile \
-xvolkeys/Makefile \
 examples/Makefile \
 contrib/init.d.sndiod \
 contrib/sndiod.service
@@ -272,7 +262,6 @@ do
 	-e "s:@vars@:${vars}:" \
 	-e "s:@precision@:$precision:" \
 	-e "s:@user@:$user:" \
-	-e "s:@xvolkeys@:$xvolkeys:" \
 	< $f.in > $f
 done
 
@@ -293,7 +282,6 @@ oss...................... $oss
 sun...................... $sun
 rmidi.................... $rmidi
 umidi.................... $umidi
-xvolkeys................. $xvolkeys
 
 Do "make && make install" to compile and install sndio
 
diff --git a/xvolkeys/Makefile.in b/xvolkeys/Makefile.in
deleted file mode 100644
index f8b4f9c..0000000
--- a/xvolkeys/Makefile.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-# extra includes paths (-I options)
-INCLUDE = -I/usr/X11R6/include -I../libsndio -I../bsd-compat
-
-# extra libraries paths (-L options)
-LIB = -L/usr/X11R6/lib -L../libsndio
-
-# extra defines (-D options)
-DEFS = -DDEBUG @defs@
-
-# extra libraries (-l options)
-LDADD = -lX11 -lsndio @ldadd@
-
-# variables defined on configure script command line (if any)
-@vars@
-
-#
-# binaries, documentation, man pages and examples will be installed in
-# ${BIN_DIR}, ${MAN1_DIR}
-#
-BIN_DIR = @bindir@
-MAN1_DIR = @mandir@/man1
-
-#
-# programs to build
-#
-PROG = xvolkeys
-
-all:		${PROG}
-
-install:
-		mkdir -p ${DESTDIR}${BIN_DIR} ${DESTDIR}${MAN1_DIR}
-		cp ${PROG} ${DESTDIR}${BIN_DIR}
-		cp ${PROG:=.1} ${DESTDIR}${MAN1_DIR}
-
-uninstall:
-		cd ${DESTDIR}${BIN_DIR} && rm -f ${PROG}
-		cd ${DESTDIR}${MAN1_DIR} && rm -f ${PROG:=.1}
-
-clean:
-		rm -f -- *.o xvolkeys
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------- dependencies ---
-
-OBJS = xvolkeys.o
-
-xvolkeys:	${OBJS}
-		${CC} ${LDFLAGS} ${LIB} -o xvolkeys ${OBJS} ${LDADD}
-
-.c.o:
-		${CC} ${CFLAGS} ${INCLUDE} ${DEFS} -c $<
-
-xvolkeys.o:	xvolkeys.c
diff --git a/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.1 b/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.1
deleted file mode 100644
index f9c510f..0000000
--- a/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.1
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
-.\"	$OpenBSD$
-.\"
-.\" Copyright (c) 2014 Alexandre Ratchov <alex@caoua.org>
-.\"
-.\" Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
-.\" purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
-.\" copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
-.\"
-.\" THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
-.\" WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
-.\" MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
-.\" ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
-.\" WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
-.\" ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
-.\" OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
-.\"
-.Dd $Mdocdate$
-.Dt XVOLKEYS 1
-.Os
-.Sh NAME
-.Nm xvolkeys
-.Nd hot-keys in X to control sndiod master volume
-.Sh SYNOPSIS
-.Nm xvolkeys
-.Op Fl D
-.Op Fl v
-.Op Fl f Ar device
-.Sh DESCRIPTION
-The
-.Nm
-increments or
-decrements the
-.Xr sndiod 1
-master volume whenever the "+" and "-" keys
-are pressed while the Control and Alt keys are held down.
-It is meant to be started as background process by
-.Xr xinit 1
-or
-.Xr xdm 1
-session startup scripts.
-It exits when X session terminates.
-.Pp
-The options are as follows:
-.Bl -tag -width Ds
-.It Fl D
-Daemonize.
-.It Fl f Ar device
-Audio device to control volume of.
-.It Fl v
-Increase log verbosity.
-.El
-.Sh SEE ALSO
-.Xr sndiod 1
-.Xr sndio 7
diff --git a/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.c b/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 2053cbf..0000000
--- a/xvolkeys/xvolkeys.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,321 +0,0 @@
-/*	$OpenBSD$	*/
-/*
- * Copyright (c) 2014-2020 Alexandre Ratchov <alex@caoua.org>
- *
- * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
- * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
- * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
- *
- * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
- * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
- * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
- * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
- * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
- * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
- * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
- */
-#include <poll.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <sndio.h>
-#include <X11/Xlib.h>
-#include <X11/Xutil.h>
-#include <X11/keysym.h>
-
-/*
- * X keysyms to increment / decrement volume: + and -
- */
-#define KEY_INC	XK_plus
-#define KEY_DEC	XK_minus
-
-/*
- * modifiers: Alt + Ctrl
- */
-#define MODMASK		(Mod1Mask | ControlMask)
-
-/*
- * volume increment
- */
-#define VOL_INC	9
-
-char *dev_name;
-struct pollfd pfds[16];
-struct sioctl_hdl *hdl;
-unsigned int output_addr;
-int output_val, output_maxval;
-int output_found = 0;
-int verbose;
-
-/*
- * X bits
- */
-Display	*dpy;
-KeyCode inc_code, dec_code;
-KeySym *inc_map, *dec_map;
-
-/*
- * new control
- */
-static void
-dev_ondesc(void *unused, struct sioctl_desc *desc, int val)
-{
-	if (desc == NULL)
-		return;
-	if (output_found)
-		return;
-	if (desc->group[0] == 0 &&
-	    strcmp(desc->node0.name, "output") == 0 &&
-	    strcmp(desc->func, "level") == 0) {
-		output_found = 1;
-		output_addr = desc->addr;
-		output_maxval = desc->maxval;
-		output_val = val;
-		if (verbose)
-			fprintf(stderr, "%s: output at addr %u, value = %u\n",
-			    dev_name, output_addr, output_val);
-	}
-}
-
-/*
- * control value changed
- */
-static void
-dev_onval(void *unused, unsigned int addr, unsigned int val)
-{
-	if (addr == output_addr) {
-		if (verbose)
-			fprintf(stderr, "output changed %u -> %u\n", output_val, val);
-		output_val = val;
-	}
-}
-
-/*
- * if there's an error, close connection to sndiod
- */
-static void
-dev_disconnect(void)
-{
-	if (!sioctl_eof(hdl))
-		return;
-	if (verbose)
-		fprintf(stderr, "%s: dev device disconnected\n", dev_name);
-	sioctl_close(hdl);
-	hdl = NULL;
-}
-
-/*
- * connect to sndiod
- */
-static int
-dev_connect(void)
-{
-	if (hdl != NULL)
-		return 1;
-	hdl = sioctl_open(dev_name, SIOCTL_READ | SIOCTL_WRITE, 0);
-	if (hdl == NULL) {
-		if (verbose)
-			fprintf(stderr, "%s: couldn't open dev device\n",
-			    dev_name);
-		return 0;
-	}
-	output_found = 0;
-	sioctl_ondesc(hdl, dev_ondesc, NULL);
-	sioctl_onval(hdl, dev_onval, NULL);
-	if (!output_found)
-		fprintf(stderr, "%s: warning, couldn't find output control\n",
-		    dev_name);
-	return 1;
-}
-
-/*
- * send output volume message and to the server
- */
-static void
-dev_incrvol(int incr)
-{
-	int vol;
-
-	if (!dev_connect())
-		return;
-	vol = output_val + incr;
-	if (vol > output_maxval)
-		vol = output_maxval;
-	if (vol < 0)
-		vol = 0;
-	if (output_val != (unsigned int)vol) {
-		output_val = vol;
-		if (hdl && output_found) {
-			if (verbose) {
-				fprintf(stderr, "%s: setting volume to %d\n",
-				    dev_name, vol);
-			}
-			sioctl_setval(hdl, output_addr, output_val);
-			dev_disconnect();
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-/*
- * register hot-keys in X
- */
-static void
-grab_keys(void)
-{
-	unsigned int i, scr, nscr;
-	int nret;
-
-	if (verbose)
-		fprintf(stderr, "grabbing keys\n");
-	inc_code = XKeysymToKeycode(dpy, KEY_INC);
-	inc_map = XGetKeyboardMapping(dpy, inc_code, 1, &nret);
-	if (nret <= ShiftMask) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "couldn't get keymap for '+' key\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	dec_code = XKeysymToKeycode(dpy, KEY_DEC);
-	dec_map = XGetKeyboardMapping(dpy, dec_code, 1, &nret);
-	if (nret <= ShiftMask) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "couldn't get keymap for '-' key\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	nscr = ScreenCount(dpy);
-	for (i = 0; i <= 0xff; i++) {
-		if ((i & MODMASK) != 0)
-			continue;
-		for (scr = 0; scr != nscr; scr++) {
-
-			XGrabKey(dpy, inc_code, i | MODMASK,
-			    RootWindow(dpy, scr), 1,
-			    GrabModeAsync, GrabModeAsync);
-			XGrabKey(dpy, dec_code, i | MODMASK,
-			    RootWindow(dpy, scr), 1,
-			    GrabModeAsync, GrabModeAsync);
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-/*
- * unregister hot-keys
- */
-static void
-ungrab_keys(void)
-{
-	unsigned int scr, nscr;
-
-	if (verbose)
-		fprintf(stderr, "ungrabbing keys\n");
-
-	XFree(inc_map);
-	XFree(dec_map);
-
-	nscr = ScreenCount(dpy);
-	for (scr = 0; scr != nscr; scr++)
-		XUngrabKey(dpy, AnyKey, AnyModifier, RootWindow(dpy, scr));
-}
-
-int
-main(int argc, char **argv)
-{
-	int scr;
-	XEvent xev;
-	int c, nfds;
-	int background, revents;
-
-	/*
-	 * parse command line options
-	 */
-	dev_name = SIO_DEVANY;
-	verbose = 0;
-	background = 0;
-	while ((c = getopt(argc, argv, "Df:q:v")) != -1) {
-		switch (c) {
-		case 'D':
-			background = 1;
-			break;
-		case 'v':
-			verbose++;
-			break;
-		case 'q': /* compat */
-		case 'f':
-			dev_name = optarg;
-			break;
-		default:
-			goto bad_usage;
-		}
-	}
-	argc -= optind;
-	argv += optind;
-	if (argc > 0) {
-	bad_usage:
-		fprintf(stderr, "usage: xvolkeys [-Dv] [-f device]\n");
-	}
-
-	dpy = XOpenDisplay(NULL);
-	if (dpy == 0) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't open display\n");
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
-	/* mask non-key events for each screan */
-	for (scr = 0; scr != ScreenCount(dpy); scr++)
-		XSelectInput(dpy, RootWindow(dpy, scr), KeyPress);
-
-	(void)dev_connect();
-
-	grab_keys();
-
-	if (background) {
-		verbose = 0;
-		if (daemon(0, 0) < 0) {
-			perror("daemon");
-			exit(1);
-		}
-	}
-
-	while (1) {
-		while (XPending(dpy)) {
-			XNextEvent(dpy, &xev);
-			if (xev.type == MappingNotify) {
-				if (xev.xmapping.request != MappingKeyboard)
-					continue;
-				if (verbose)
-					fprintf(stderr, "keyboard remapped\n");
-				ungrab_keys();
-				grab_keys();
-			}
-			if (xev.type != KeyPress)
-				continue;
-			if (xev.xkey.keycode == inc_code &&
-			    inc_map[xev.xkey.state & ShiftMask] == KEY_INC) {
-				dev_incrvol(VOL_INC);
-			} else if (xev.xkey.keycode == dec_code &&
-			    dec_map[xev.xkey.state & ShiftMask] == KEY_DEC) {
-				dev_incrvol(-VOL_INC);
-			}
-		}
-		nfds = (hdl != NULL) ? sioctl_pollfd(hdl, pfds, 0) : 0;
-		pfds[nfds].fd = ConnectionNumber(dpy);
-		pfds[nfds].events = POLLIN;
-		while (poll(pfds, nfds + 1, -1) < 0 && errno == EINTR)
-			; /* nothing */
-		if (hdl) {
-			revents = sioctl_revents(hdl, pfds);
-			if (revents & POLLHUP)
-				dev_disconnect();
-			else if (revents & POLLIN) {
-				/* what */
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	XFree(inc_map);
-	XFree(dec_map);
-	XCloseDisplay(dpy);
-	if (hdl)
-		sioctl_close(hdl);
-	return 0;
-}