diff --git a/src/core/frame.c b/src/core/frame.c
index 8901aad31..13cbbd209 100644
--- a/src/core/frame.c
+++ b/src/core/frame.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "bell.h"
 #include <meta/errors.h>
 #include "keybindings-private.h"
+#include "backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h"
 
 #define EVENT_MASK (SubstructureRedirectMask |                     \
                     StructureNotifyMask | SubstructureNotifyMask | \
@@ -159,10 +160,16 @@ meta_window_ensure_frame (MetaWindow *window)
 
   meta_ui_map_frame (frame->window->screen->ui, frame->xwindow);
 
-  /* Since the backend takes keygrabs on another connection, make sure
-   * to sync the GTK+ connection to ensure that the frame window has
-   * been created on the server at this point. */
-  XSync (window->display->xdisplay, False);
+  {
+    MetaBackend *backend = meta_get_backend ();
+    if (META_IS_BACKEND_X11 (backend))
+      {
+        /* Since the backend takes keygrabs on another connection, make sure
+         * to sync the GTK+ connection to ensure that the frame window has
+         * been created on the server at this point. */
+        XSync (window->display->xdisplay, False);
+      }
+  }
 
   /* Move keybindings to frame instead of window */
   meta_window_grab_keys (window);