diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/default.nix
index 31447a9e8c3..4fdaa42a1bf 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/default.nix
@@ -269,8 +269,6 @@ lib.makeScope pkgs.newScope (self: with self; {
 
   gnome-panel = callPackage ./misc/gnome-panel { };
 
-  gnome-screensaver = callPackage ./misc/gnome-screensaver { };
-
   gnome-tweaks = callPackage ./misc/gnome-tweaks { };
 
   gpaste = callPackage ./misc/gpaste { };
@@ -358,4 +356,6 @@ lib.makeScope pkgs.newScope (self: with self; {
   inherit (pkgs) networkmanagerapplet; # added 2019-12-12
 
   vino = throw "vino is deprecated, use gnome-remote-desktop instead."; # added 2020-03-13
+
+  gnome-screensaver = throw "gnome-screensaver is deprecated. If you are using GNOME Flashback, it now has a built-in lock screen. If you are using it elsewhere, you can try xscreenlock or other alternatives."; # added 2020-03-19
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/misc/gnome-screensaver/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/misc/gnome-screensaver/default.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 4a530e54de7..00000000000
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome-3/misc/gnome-screensaver/default.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
-{ stdenv
-, fetchgit
-, autoreconfHook
-, dbus-glib
-, glib
-, gnome-common
-, gnome-desktop
-, gnome3
-, gtk3
-, pkgconfig
-, intltool
-, pam
-, systemd
-, wrapGAppsHook
-}:
-
-stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
-  pname = "gnome-screensaver";
-  version = "3.6.1";
-
-  # the original package is deprecated and the Ubuntu version has a number of useful patches
-  src = fetchgit {
-    url = "https://git.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-screensaver";
-    rev =  "4f7b666131dec060a5aac9117f395ac522a627b4";
-    sha256 = "15xqgcpm825cy3rm8pj00qlblq66svmh06lcw8qi74a3g0xcir87";
-  };
-
-  # from debian/patches/series
-  patches = map (patch: "debian/patches/${patch}") [
-    "00git_logind_check.patch"
-    "01_no_autostart.patch"
-    "03_fix_ltsp-fading.patch"
-    "05_dbus_service.patch"
-    "10_legacy_scrsvr_inhibit.patch"
-    "13_nvidia_gamma_fade_fallback.patch"
-    "14_no_fade_on_user_switch.patch"
-    "15_dont_crash_on_no_fade.patch"
-    "16_dont_crash_in_kvm.patch"
-    "17_remove_top_panel.patch"
-    "18_unity_dialog_layout.patch"
-    "24_use_user_settings.patch"
-    "25_fix_lock_command.patch"
-    "27_lightdm_switch_user.patch"
-    "28_blocking_return.patch"
-    "29_handle_expired_creds.patch"
-    # these two patches are ubuntu-specific
-    # "30_ubuntu-lock-on-suspend_gsetting.patch"
-    # "31_lock_screen_on_suspend.patch"
-    "32_input_sources_switcher.patch"
-    "move-not-nuke.patch"
-    "allow-replacement"
-    "libsystemd.patch"
-    "0001-gs-lock-plug-Disconnect-signal-handler-from-right-ob.patch"
-    "33_budgie_support.patch"
-  ] ++ [ ./fix-dbus-service-dir.patch ];
-
-  nativeBuildInputs = [
-    autoreconfHook
-    intltool
-    wrapGAppsHook
-    gnome-common
-    pkgconfig
-  ];
-
-  buildInputs = [
-    glib
-    gtk3
-    gnome-desktop
-    dbus-glib
-    pam
-    systemd
-  ];
-
-  NIX_CFLAGS_COMPILE = [ "-Wno-error=return-type" ];
-
-  configureFlags = [ "--enable-locking" "--with-systemd=yes" ];
-
-  enableParallelBuilding = true;
-
-  doCheck = true;
-
-  passthru = {
-    updateScript = gnome3.updateScript {
-      packageName = pname;
-      attrPath = "gnome3.${pname}";
-    };
-  };
-
-  meta = with stdenv.lib; {
-    description = "Component of Gnome Flashback that provides screen locking";
-    homepage = https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GnomeScreensaver;
-    license = licenses.gpl2Plus;
-    maintainers = gnome3.maintainers;
-    platforms = platforms.linux;
-  };
-}