diff --git a/src/core/meta-cursor-tracker.c b/src/core/meta-cursor-tracker.c
index c718dd433..e20d70ee6 100644
--- a/src/core/meta-cursor-tracker.c
+++ b/src/core/meta-cursor-tracker.c
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ get_pointer_position_gdk (int         *x,
   GdkScreen *gscreen;
 
   gmanager = gdk_display_get_device_manager (gdk_display_get_default ());
-  gdevice = gdk_device_manager_get_client_pointer (gmanager);
+  gdevice = gdk_x11_device_manager_lookup (gmanager, META_VIRTUAL_CORE_POINTER_ID);
 
   gdk_device_get_position (gdevice, &gscreen, x, y);
   if (mods)