diff --git a/xwords4/linux/Makefile b/xwords4/linux/Makefile
index 54193daf8..fac5fb185 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/Makefile
+++ b/xwords4/linux/Makefile
@@ -33,8 +33,10 @@ CFLAGS += -g $(GPROFFLAG) -Wall -Wunused-parameter -Wcast-align -Werror -O0
 #CFLAGS += -Os -Werror -Wunused
 endif
 
+# Getting ready for gtk 3.x
 CFLAGS += -DGTK_DISABLE_SINGLE_INCLUDES
 CFLAGS += -DGDK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED -DGTK_DISABLE_DEPRECATED
+CFLAGS += -DGSEAL_ENABLE
 
 BUILD_PLAT_DIR = $(BUILD_DIR)/$(PLATFORM)
 
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkaskdict.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkaskdict.c
index d635d595b..289acc7d0 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkaskdict.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkaskdict.c
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ gtkaskdict( GSList* dicts, gchar* buf, gint buflen )
     GtkWidget* dialog = gtk_dialog_new();
     gtk_window_set_modal( GTK_WINDOW( dialog ), TRUE );
     GtkWidget* list = gtk_tree_view_new();
-    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox), list, TRUE, TRUE, 5);
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
+                        list, TRUE, TRUE, 5);
 
     init_list( list );
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ gtkaskdict( GSList* dicts, gchar* buf, gint buflen )
     GtkWidget* button = gtk_button_new_with_label( "Ok" );
     g_signal_connect( GTK_OBJECT(button), "clicked", 
                       G_CALLBACK(on_clicked), NULL );
-    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox), button, 
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), button,
                         FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
     // gtk_widget_show( button );
 
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkaskm.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkaskm.c
index 3560c569b..37f18bac1 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkaskm.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkaskm.c
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ gtkaskm( const gchar* message, AskMInfo* infos, int nInfos )
     gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(hbox), state.cancelButton, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
     gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
 
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox);
+    gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
+                      vbox);
     gtk_widget_show_all( dialog );
 
     gtk_main();
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkboard.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkboard.c
index d437d232b..8e4a2505e 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkboard.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkboard.c
@@ -705,10 +705,11 @@ configure_event( GtkWidget* widget, GdkEventConfigure* XP_UNUSED(event),
     CommonGlobals* cGlobals = &globals->cGlobals;
     BoardCtxt* board = cGlobals->game.board;
 
-    short bdWidth = widget->allocation.width - (GTK_RIGHT_MARGIN
-						+ GTK_BOARD_LEFT_MARGIN);
-    short bdHeight = widget->allocation.height - (GTK_TOP_MARGIN + GTK_BOTTOM_MARGIN)
-      - GTK_MIN_TRAY_SCALEV - GTK_BOTTOM_MARGIN;
+    GtkAllocation alloc;
+    gtk_widget_get_allocation( widget, &alloc );
+    short bdWidth = alloc.width - (GTK_RIGHT_MARGIN + GTK_BOARD_LEFT_MARGIN);
+    short bdHeight = alloc.height - (GTK_TOP_MARGIN + GTK_BOTTOM_MARGIN)
+        - GTK_MIN_TRAY_SCALEV - GTK_BOTTOM_MARGIN;
 
 #ifdef COMMON_LAYOUT
     XP_ASSERT( !cGlobals->params->verticalScore ); /* not supported */
@@ -1549,7 +1550,7 @@ static void
 scroll_value_changed( GtkAdjustment *adj, GtkGameGlobals* globals )
 {
     XP_U16 newValue;
-    gfloat newValueF = adj->value;
+    gfloat newValueF = gtk_adjustment_get_value( adj );
 
     /* XP_ASSERT( newValueF >= 0.0 */
     /*            && newValueF <= globals->cGlobals.params->nHidden ); */
@@ -1577,8 +1578,8 @@ handle_hide_button( GtkWidget* XP_UNUSED(widget), GtkGameGlobals* globals )
 
     if ( globals->cGlobals.params->nHidden > 0 ) {
         gint nRows = globals->cGlobals.gi->boardSize;
-        globals->adjustment->page_size = nRows;
-        globals->adjustment->value = 0.0;
+        gtk_adjustment_set_page_size( globals->adjustment, nRows );
+        gtk_adjustment_set_value( globals->adjustment, 0.0 );
 
         g_signal_emit_by_name( GTK_OBJECT(globals->adjustment), "changed" );
         gtk_adjustment_value_changed( GTK_ADJUSTMENT(globals->adjustment) );
@@ -1814,9 +1815,9 @@ gtk_util_yOffsetChange( XW_UtilCtxt* uc, XP_U16 maxOffset,
     GtkGameGlobals* globals = (GtkGameGlobals*)uc->closure;
     if ( !!globals->adjustment ) {
         gint nRows = globals->cGlobals.gi->boardSize;
-        globals->adjustment->page_size = nRows - maxOffset;
-        globals->adjustment->value = newOffset;
-        gtk_adjustment_value_changed( GTK_ADJUSTMENT(globals->adjustment) );
+        gtk_adjustment_set_page_size(globals->adjustment, nRows - maxOffset);
+        gtk_adjustment_set_value(globals->adjustment, newOffset);
+        gtk_adjustment_value_changed( globals->adjustment );
     }
 } /* gtk_util_yOffsetChange */
 
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
index 029cd6b33..77289ddc0 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkconnsdlg.c
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ gtkConnsDlg( GtkGameGlobals* globals, CommsAddrRec* addr, DeviceRole role,
 
     dialog = gtk_dialog_new();
     gtk_window_set_modal( GTK_WINDOW( dialog ), TRUE );
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox );
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), vbox );
 
     gtk_widget_show_all( dialog );
     gtk_main();
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkdraw.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkdraw.c
index 0f97ef289..c39226ce7 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkdraw.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkdraw.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ gtkInsetRect( XP_Rect* r, short i )
 #if 0
 #define DRAW_WHAT(dc) ((dc)->globals->pixmap)
 #else
-#define DRAW_WHAT(dc) ((dc)->drawing_area->window)
+#define DRAW_WHAT(dc) (gtk_widget_get_window((dc)->drawing_area))
 #endif
 
 #define GTKMIN_W_HT 12
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ static void
 gtkEraseRect( const GtkDrawCtx* dctx, const XP_Rect* rect )
 {
     set_color_cairo( dctx, 0xFFFF, 0xFFFF, 0xFFFF );
-    draw_rectangle( dctx, DRAW_WHAT(dctx),
-                    dctx->drawing_area->style->white_gc,
+    const GtkStyle* style = gtk_widget_get_style( dctx->drawing_area );
+    draw_rectangle( dctx, DRAW_WHAT(dctx), style->white_gc,
                     TRUE, rect->left, rect->top, 
                     rect->width, rect->height );
 } /* gtkEraseRect */
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ drawBitmapFromLBS( GtkDrawCtx* dctx, const XP_Bitmap bm, const XP_Rect* rect )
     XP_U16 i;
     XP_S16 nBytes;
     XP_U16 nCols, nRows;
+    const GtkStyle* style = gtk_widget_get_style( dctx->drawing_area );
     
     nCols = lbs->nCols;
     nRows = lbs->nRows;
@@ -293,8 +294,7 @@ drawBitmapFromLBS( GtkDrawCtx* dctx, const XP_Bitmap bm, const XP_Rect* rect )
     nBytes = lbs->nBytes;
 
     pm = gdk_pixmap_new( DRAW_WHAT(dctx), nCols, nRows, -1 );
-
-    draw_rectangle( dctx, pm, dctx->drawing_area->style->white_gc, TRUE,
+    draw_rectangle( dctx, pm, style->white_gc, TRUE,
                     0, 0, nCols, nRows );
 
     x = 0;
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ drawBitmapFromLBS( GtkDrawCtx* dctx, const XP_Bitmap bm, const XP_Rect* rect )
             if ( draw ) {
 #ifdef USE_CAIRO
 #else
-                gdk_draw_point( pm, dctx->drawing_area->style->black_gc, x, y );
+                gdk_draw_point( pm, style->black_gc, x, y );
 #endif
             }
             byte <<= 1;
@@ -349,12 +349,12 @@ static void
 gtk_draw_destroyCtxt( DrawCtx* p_dctx )
 {
     GtkDrawCtx* dctx = (GtkDrawCtx*)p_dctx;
-    GtkAllocation* alloc = &dctx->drawing_area->allocation;
+    GtkAllocation alloc;
+    gtk_widget_get_allocation( dctx->drawing_area, &alloc );
+    const GtkStyle* style = gtk_widget_get_style( dctx->drawing_area );
 
-    draw_rectangle( dctx, DRAW_WHAT(dctx),
-                    dctx->drawing_area->style->white_gc,
-                    TRUE,
-                    0, 0, alloc->width, alloc->height );
+    draw_rectangle( dctx, DRAW_WHAT(dctx), style->white_gc, TRUE,
+                    0, 0, alloc.width, alloc.height );
 
 	g_list_foreach( dctx->fontsPerSize, freer, NULL );
 	g_list_free( dctx->fontsPerSize );
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@ gtkDrawCtxtMake( GtkWidget* drawing_area, GtkGameGlobals* globals )
         /* } else { */
         /*     window = GTK_WIDGET(drawing_area)->window; */
         /* } */
-        GdkWindow* window = GTK_WIDGET(drawing_area)->window;
+        GdkWindow* window = gtk_widget_get_window(drawing_area);
         XP_ASSERT( !!window );
 #ifdef USE_CAIRO
         dctx->cr = gdk_cairo_create( window );
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkinvit.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkinvit.c
index 6bb800dfd..32266513c 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkinvit.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkinvit.c
@@ -365,8 +365,7 @@ gtkInviteDlg( GtkGameGlobals* globals, CommsAddrRec* addr,
 
     dialog = gtk_dialog_new();
     gtk_window_set_modal( GTK_WINDOW( dialog ), TRUE );
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox );
-
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), vbox );
 
     gtk_widget_show_all( dialog );
     gtk_main();
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkletterask.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkletterask.c
index 20a99b020..db4aa80b9 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkletterask.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkletterask.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ gtkletterask( const PickInfo* pi, XP_Bool forTray, const XP_UCHAR* name,
         txt = "Choose a letter for your blank.";
     }
     label = gtk_label_new( txt );
-    gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox),
+    gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
                        label);
 
     if ( forTray ) {
@@ -124,11 +124,11 @@ gtkletterask( const PickInfo* pi, XP_Bool forTray, const XP_UCHAR* name,
         }
 
         GtkWidget* curTilesLabel = gtk_label_new( curTilesBuf );
-        gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER (GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox),
+        gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER (gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
                            curTilesLabel );
     }
 
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox);
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), vbox);
     gtk_widget_show_all( dialog );
 
     gtk_main();
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtknewgame.c b/xwords4/linux/gtknewgame.c
index 98171a788..2fbd42434 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtknewgame.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtknewgame.c
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ makeNewGameDialog( GtkNewGameState* state )
     gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
 
     gtk_widget_show( vbox );
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox);
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), vbox);
 
     gtk_widget_show_all (dialog);
 
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkntilesask.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkntilesask.c
index 763982182..8602c8b62 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkntilesask.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkntilesask.c
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ askNTiles( XP_U16 max, XP_U16 deflt )
 
     sprintf( defbuf, "Limit hint to how many tiles (deflt=%d)?", deflt );
     label = gtk_label_new( defbuf );
-    gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox),
-                       label);
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
+                       label );
 
     hbox = gtk_hbox_new( FALSE, 0 );
     for ( i = 0; i < max; ++i ) {
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ askNTiles( XP_U16 max, XP_U16 deflt )
         gtk_widget_show( button );
     }
     gtk_widget_show( hbox );
-    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox), hbox, 
-                        FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
+
+    GtkWidget* dlgVBox = gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog));
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(dlgVBox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
 
     sprintf( defbuf, "Default (%d)", deflt );
     button = gtk_button_new_with_label( defbuf );
-    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox), button, FALSE, 
-                        TRUE, 0 );
+    gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(dlgVBox), button, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
     g_signal_connect( GTK_OBJECT(button), "clicked", 
                       G_CALLBACK(button_event), 
                       &results[deflt-1] );
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/gtkpasswdask.c b/xwords4/linux/gtkpasswdask.c
index 3dd81af44..501a76e5d 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/gtkpasswdask.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/gtkpasswdask.c
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ gtkpasswdask( const char* name, char* outbuf, XP_U16* buflen )
     snprintf( buf, sizeof(buf), "Password for player \"%s\"", name );
     label = gtk_label_new( buf );
 
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER (GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->vbox),
-                       label );
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_dialog_get_content_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))),
+                       label);
 
     /* we need a text field and two buttons as well */
     vbox = gtk_vbox_new(FALSE, 0);
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ gtkpasswdask( const char* name, char* outbuf, XP_U16* buflen )
 
     gtk_box_pack_start( GTK_BOX(vbox), hbox, FALSE, TRUE, 0 );
 
-    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER( GTK_DIALOG(dialog)->action_area), vbox);
+    gtk_container_add( GTK_CONTAINER(gtk_dialog_get_action_area(GTK_DIALOG(dialog))), vbox);
 
     gtk_widget_show_all( dialog );