diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index ec7494137..2fb6248a8 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -220,12 +220,6 @@ class Boss:
             old_focus.focus_changed(False)
         tab.active_window.focus_changed(True)
 
-    def request_attention(self):
-        try:
-            self.glfw_window.request_window_attention()
-        except AttributeError:
-            pass  # needs glfw 3.3
-
     def send_fake_scroll(self, window_idx, amt, upwards):
         tab = self.active_tab
         w = tab.windows[window_idx]
diff --git a/kitty/data-types.h b/kitty/data-types.h
index 635d3089f..3651814f1 100644
--- a/kitty/data-types.h
+++ b/kitty/data-types.h
@@ -320,3 +320,4 @@ void scroll_event(double, double);
 void set_special_key_combo(int glfw_key, int mods);
 void on_text_input(unsigned int codepoint, int mods);
 void on_key_input(int key, int scancode, int action, int mods);
+void request_window_attention();
diff --git a/kitty/glfw.c b/kitty/glfw.c
index b3e1183b6..9e356fffe 100644
--- a/kitty/glfw.c
+++ b/kitty/glfw.c
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 #error "glfw >= 3.2 required"
 #endif
 
+#if GLFW_VERSION_MAJOR > 4 || (GLFW_VERSION_MAJOR == 3 && GLFW_VERSION_MINOR > 2)
+#define has_request_attention
+#endif
+
 #if GLFW_KEY_LAST >= MAX_KEY_COUNT
 #error "glfw has too many keys, you should increase MAX_KEY_COUNT"
 #endif
@@ -401,13 +405,13 @@ current_monitor_dpi(WindowWrapper *self) {
     return get_physical_dpi(m);
 }
 
-#ifdef glfwRequestWindowAttention
-static PyObject*
-request_window_attention(WindowWrapper *self) {
-    glfwRequestWindowAttention(self->window);
-    Py_RETURN_NONE;
-}
+void
+request_window_attention() {
+#ifdef has_request_attention
+    glfwRequestWindowAttention(the->window);
 #endif
+    glfwPostEmptyEvent();
+}
 
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 static PyObject*
@@ -429,9 +433,6 @@ static PyMethodDef methods[] = {
     MND(get_framebuffer_size, METH_NOARGS),
     MND(get_window_size, METH_NOARGS),
     MND(current_monitor_dpi, METH_NOARGS),
-#ifdef glfwRequestWindowAttention
-    MND(request_window_attention, METH_NOARGS),
-#endif
 #ifdef __APPLE__
     MND(cocoa_window_id, METH_NOARGS),
 #endif
diff --git a/kitty/screen.c b/kitty/screen.c
index 64cfc0257..1d9c34bb0 100644
--- a/kitty/screen.c
+++ b/kitty/screen.c
@@ -951,11 +951,11 @@ screen_bell(Screen UNUSED *self) {
             }
             close(fd);
         }
+        request_window_attention();
     }
     if (global_state.opts.visual_bell_duration > 0) {
         self->start_visual_bell_at = monotonic();
     }
-    CALLBACK("bell", NULL);
 } 
 
 static inline void 
diff --git a/kitty/window.py b/kitty/window.py
index f1d8ef8cc..0af8eaacf 100644
--- a/kitty/window.py
+++ b/kitty/window.py
@@ -139,11 +139,6 @@ class Window:
                 print('Failed to write to child %d as it does not exist' % self.id, file=sys.stderr)
 
     # screen callbacks {{{
-    def bell(self):
-        boss = get_boss()
-        boss.request_attention()
-        glfw_post_empty_event()
-
     def use_utf8(self, on):
         get_boss().child_monitor.set_iutf8(self.window_id, on)