diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-virtual-monitor-native.c b/src/backends/native/meta-virtual-monitor-native.c
index 5f698c79a..93d351237 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-virtual-monitor-native.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-virtual-monitor-native.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ struct _MetaVirtualMonitorNative
   uint64_t id;
 };
 
+static uint64_t mode_id = 1;
+
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (MetaVirtualMonitorNative, meta_virtual_monitor_native,
                META_TYPE_VIRTUAL_MONITOR)
 
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ meta_virtual_monitor_native_new (uint64_t                      id,
   MetaOutputVirtual *output_virtual;
 
   crtc_virtual = meta_crtc_virtual_new (id);
-  crtc_mode_virtual = meta_crtc_mode_virtual_new (id, &info->mode_info);
+  crtc_mode_virtual = meta_crtc_mode_virtual_new (mode_id++, &info->mode_info);
   output_virtual = meta_output_virtual_new (id, info,
                                             crtc_virtual,
                                             crtc_mode_virtual);