diff --git a/backend/x11/backend.c b/backend/x11/backend.c
index f598aea12..59b75a036 100644
--- a/backend/x11/backend.c
+++ b/backend/x11/backend.c
@@ -171,6 +171,15 @@ static bool wlr_x11_backend_start(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// create a blank cursor
+	xcb_pixmap_t pix = xcb_generate_id(x11->xcb_conn);
+	xcb_create_pixmap(x11->xcb_conn, 1, pix, x11->screen->root, 1, 1);
+
+	x11->cursor = xcb_generate_id(x11->xcb_conn);
+	xcb_create_cursor(x11->xcb_conn, x11->cursor, pix, pix, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+		0, 0);
+	xcb_free_pixmap(x11->xcb_conn, pix);
+
 #ifdef WLR_HAS_XCB_XKB
 		const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *reply =
 			xcb_get_extension_data(x11->xcb_conn, &xcb_xkb_id);
@@ -239,6 +248,9 @@ static void wlr_x11_backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 
 	wlr_egl_finish(&x11->egl);
 
+	if (x11->cursor) {
+		xcb_free_cursor(x11->xcb_conn, x11->cursor);
+	}
 	if (x11->xlib_conn) {
 		XCloseDisplay(x11->xlib_conn);
 	}
diff --git a/backend/x11/output.c b/backend/x11/output.c
index 4ccabd51a..4a8ac84cc 100644
--- a/backend/x11/output.c
+++ b/backend/x11/output.c
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ struct wlr_output *wlr_x11_output_create(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 			strlen(title), title);
 	}
 
+	uint32_t cursor_values[] = { x11->cursor };
+	xcb_change_window_attributes(x11->xcb_conn, output->win, XCB_CW_CURSOR,
+		cursor_values);
+
 	xcb_map_window(x11->xcb_conn, output->win);
 	xcb_flush(x11->xcb_conn);
 
diff --git a/include/backend/x11.h b/include/backend/x11.h
index 0426e4816..33c9a4274 100644
--- a/include/backend/x11.h
+++ b/include/backend/x11.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ struct wlr_x11_backend {
 	// The time we last received an event
 	xcb_timestamp_t time;
 
+	// A blank cursor
+	xcb_cursor_t cursor;
+
 #ifdef WLR_HAS_XCB_XKB
 	bool xkb_supported;
 	uint8_t xkb_base_event;