diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
index 7d7910345..9a1f35e6e 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.c
@@ -802,3 +802,13 @@ meta_backend_x11_get_xwindow (MetaBackendX11 *x11)
   ClutterActor *stage = meta_backend_get_stage (META_BACKEND (x11));
   return clutter_x11_get_stage_window (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage));
 }
+
+void
+meta_backend_x11_reload_cursor (MetaBackendX11 *x11)
+{
+  MetaBackend *backend = META_BACKEND (x11);
+  MetaCursorRenderer *cursor_renderer =
+    meta_backend_get_cursor_renderer (backend);
+
+  meta_cursor_renderer_force_update (cursor_renderer);
+}
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h
index cfd5bd7cb..63076f6e4 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h
@@ -57,4 +57,6 @@ void meta_backend_x11_handle_event (MetaBackendX11 *x11,
 
 uint8_t meta_backend_x11_get_xkb_event_base (MetaBackendX11 *x11);
 
+void meta_backend_x11_reload_cursor (MetaBackendX11 *x11);
+
 #endif /* META_BACKEND_X11_H */
diff --git a/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c b/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
index f5bff0da9..b2510b530 100644
--- a/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
+++ b/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
@@ -1512,6 +1512,7 @@ update_cursor_theme (MetaX11Display *x11_display)
       Display *xdisplay = meta_backend_x11_get_xdisplay (backend_x11);
 
       set_cursor_theme (xdisplay);
+      meta_backend_x11_reload_cursor (backend_x11);
     }
 }