diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
index f09e4c99d..ee2d6c91d 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend-private.h
@@ -165,6 +165,11 @@ MetaColorManager * meta_backend_get_color_manager (MetaBackend *backend);
 META_EXPORT_TEST
 MetaLauncher * meta_backend_get_launcher (MetaBackend *backend);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+META_EXPORT_TEST
+MetaUdev * meta_backend_get_udev (MetaBackend *backend);
+#endif
+
 MetaCursorRenderer * meta_backend_get_cursor_renderer_for_device (MetaBackend        *backend,
                                                                   ClutterInputDevice *device);
 META_EXPORT_TEST
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend-types.h b/src/backends/meta-backend-types.h
index 42d571709..f7803ec24 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend-types.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend-types.h
@@ -97,3 +97,4 @@ typedef struct _MetaEis MetaEis;
 typedef struct _MetaEisClient MetaEisClient;
 
 typedef struct _MetaLauncher MetaLauncher;
+typedef struct _MetaUdev MetaUdev;
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-backend.c b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
index 5eb94f902..f87dcdfa3 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-backend.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-backend.c
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@
 #include "wayland/meta-wayland.h"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+#include "backends/meta-udev.h"
+#endif
+
 enum
 {
   PROP_0,
@@ -146,6 +150,9 @@ struct _MetaBackendPrivate
   MetaRenderer *renderer;
   MetaColorManager *color_manager;
   MetaLauncher *launcher;
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+  MetaUdev *udev;
+#endif
 #ifdef HAVE_EGL
   MetaEgl *egl;
 #endif
@@ -260,6 +267,10 @@ meta_backend_finalize (GObject *object)
 
   g_clear_object (&priv->launcher);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+  g_clear_object (&priv->udev);
+#endif
+
   if (priv->sleep_signal_id)
     {
       g_dbus_connection_signal_unsubscribe (priv->system_bus, priv->sleep_signal_id);
@@ -636,6 +647,9 @@ meta_backend_real_pause (MetaBackend *backend)
   MetaBackendPrivate *priv = meta_backend_get_instance_private (backend);
 
   meta_renderer_pause (priv->renderer);
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+  meta_udev_pause (priv->udev);
+#endif
 }
 
 static void
@@ -644,6 +658,9 @@ meta_backend_real_resume (MetaBackend *backend)
   MetaBackendPrivate *priv = meta_backend_get_instance_private (backend);
   ClutterStage *stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (meta_backend_get_stage (backend));
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+  meta_udev_resume (priv->udev);
+#endif
   meta_renderer_resume (priv->renderer);
   clutter_actor_queue_redraw (CLUTTER_ACTOR (stage));
 }
@@ -1312,6 +1329,10 @@ meta_backend_initable_init (GInitable     *initable,
   if (!meta_backend_create_launcher (backend, &priv->launcher, error))
       return FALSE;
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+  priv->udev = meta_udev_new (backend);
+#endif
+
   priv->settings = meta_settings_new (backend);
 
   priv->dnd = meta_dnd_new (backend);
@@ -1523,6 +1544,16 @@ meta_backend_get_launcher (MetaBackend *backend)
   return priv->launcher;
 }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBGUDEV
+MetaUdev *
+meta_backend_get_udev (MetaBackend *backend)
+{
+  MetaBackendPrivate *priv = meta_backend_get_instance_private (backend);
+
+  return priv->udev;
+}
+#endif
+
 /**
  * meta_backend_get_orientation_manager:
  *
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
index ea1829aa9..ec6de8fc7 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
@@ -84,7 +84,6 @@ typedef struct _MetaBackendNativePrivate
   MetaBackend parent;
 
   MetaDevicePool *device_pool;
-  MetaUdev *udev;
   MetaKms *kms;
 
   GHashTable *startup_render_devices;
@@ -115,7 +114,6 @@ meta_backend_native_dispose (GObject *object)
 
   g_clear_pointer (&priv->startup_render_devices, g_hash_table_unref);
   g_clear_object (&priv->kms);
-  g_clear_object (&priv->udev);
   g_clear_object (&priv->device_pool);
 }
 
@@ -643,7 +641,7 @@ init_gpus (MetaBackendNative  *native,
   MetaBackendNativePrivate *priv =
     meta_backend_native_get_instance_private (native);
   MetaBackend *backend = META_BACKEND (native);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (native);
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
   MetaKms *kms = meta_backend_native_get_kms (native);
   g_autoptr (GError) local_error = NULL;
   MetaUdevDeviceType device_type = 0;
@@ -719,9 +717,10 @@ init_gpus (MetaBackendNative  *native,
       return FALSE;
     }
 
-  g_signal_connect_object (priv->udev, "device-added",
-                           G_CALLBACK (on_udev_device_added), native,
-                           0);
+  g_signal_connect_object (udev, "device-added",
+                           G_CALLBACK (on_udev_device_added),
+                           native,
+                           G_CONNECT_DEFAULT);
 
   return TRUE;
 }
@@ -803,7 +802,6 @@ meta_backend_native_init_basic (MetaBackend  *backend,
                            g_free, g_object_unref);
 
   priv->device_pool = meta_device_pool_new (native);
-  priv->udev = meta_udev_new (backend);
 
   kms_flags = META_KMS_FLAG_NONE;
   if (meta_backend_is_headless (backend))
@@ -913,15 +911,6 @@ meta_backend_native_get_device_pool (MetaBackendNative *backend_native)
   return priv->device_pool;
 }
 
-MetaUdev *
-meta_backend_native_get_udev (MetaBackendNative *backend_native)
-{
-  MetaBackendNativePrivate *priv =
-    meta_backend_native_get_instance_private (backend_native);
-
-  return priv->udev;
-}
-
 MetaKms *
 meta_backend_native_get_kms (MetaBackendNative *backend_native)
 {
@@ -959,9 +948,6 @@ meta_backend_native_activate_vt (MetaBackendNative  *backend_native,
 static void
 meta_backend_native_pause (MetaBackend *backend)
 {
-  MetaBackendNative *native = META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend);
-  MetaBackendNativePrivate *priv =
-    meta_backend_native_get_instance_private (native);
   MetaMonitorManager *monitor_manager =
     meta_backend_get_monitor_manager (backend);
   MetaMonitorManagerNative *monitor_manager_native =
@@ -971,7 +957,6 @@ meta_backend_native_pause (MetaBackend *backend)
     META_SEAT_NATIVE (clutter_backend_get_default_seat (clutter_backend));
 
   meta_seat_native_release_devices (seat);
-  meta_udev_pause (priv->udev);
   meta_monitor_manager_native_pause (monitor_manager_native);
 
   META_BACKEND_CLASS (meta_backend_native_parent_class)->pause (backend);
@@ -996,7 +981,6 @@ meta_backend_native_resume (MetaBackend *backend)
   META_BACKEND_CLASS (meta_backend_native_parent_class)->resume (backend);
 
   meta_monitor_manager_native_resume (monitor_manager_native);
-  meta_udev_resume (priv->udev);
   meta_kms_resume (priv->kms);
 
   meta_seat_native_reclaim_devices (seat);
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.h b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.h
index 315898622..47a42e88f 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.h
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.h
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ gboolean meta_backend_native_activate_vt (MetaBackendNative  *backend_native,
 
 MetaLauncher * meta_backend_native_get_launcher (MetaBackendNative *native);
 
-META_EXPORT_TEST
-MetaUdev * meta_backend_native_get_udev (MetaBackendNative *native);
-
 META_EXPORT_TEST
 MetaKms * meta_backend_native_get_kms (MetaBackendNative *native);
 
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-kms.c b/src/backends/native/meta-kms.c
index fb9864b60..b1aac8756 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-kms.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-kms.c
@@ -378,8 +378,7 @@ meta_kms_new (MetaBackend   *backend,
               MetaKmsFlags   flags,
               GError       **error)
 {
-  MetaBackendNative *backend_native = META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (backend_native);
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
   MetaKms *kms;
   const char *thread_type_string;
   const char *preferred_scheduling_priority_string;
@@ -473,8 +472,7 @@ meta_kms_finalize (GObject *object)
 {
   MetaKms *kms = META_KMS (object);
   MetaBackend *backend = meta_thread_get_backend (META_THREAD (kms));
-  MetaBackendNative *backend_native = META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (backend_native);
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
 
   g_list_free_full (kms->devices, g_object_unref);
 
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 885fd222e..054f6ef69 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -279,8 +279,6 @@ mutter_sources = [
   'backends/meta-stage-private.h',
   'backends/meta-stage-view.c',
   'backends/meta-stage-view-private.h',
-  'backends/meta-udev.c',
-  'backends/meta-udev.h',
   'backends/meta-viewport-info.c',
   'backends/meta-viewport-info.h',
   'backends/meta-virtual-monitor.c',
@@ -913,6 +911,13 @@ if have_wayland_eglstream
   ]
 endif
 
+if have_libgudev
+  mutter_sources += [
+    'backends/meta-udev.c',
+    'backends/meta-udev.h',
+  ]
+endif
+
 mutter_private_enum_sources = [
   'core/window-private.h',
 ]
diff --git a/src/tests/native-kms-headless-start.c b/src/tests/native-kms-headless-start.c
index 9f5d0b664..bea310fe5 100644
--- a/src/tests/native-kms-headless-start.c
+++ b/src/tests/native-kms-headless-start.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ static void
 meta_test_headless_monitor_connect (void)
 {
   MetaBackend *backend = meta_context_get_backend (test_context);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend));
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
   MetaMonitorManager *monitor_manager =
     meta_backend_get_monitor_manager (backend);
   g_autolist (GObject) udev_devices = NULL;
diff --git a/src/tests/native-kms-hotplug.c b/src/tests/native-kms-hotplug.c
index 9574834f0..db97a6f72 100644
--- a/src/tests/native-kms-hotplug.c
+++ b/src/tests/native-kms-hotplug.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ meta_test_disconnect_connect (void)
   MetaMonitorManager *monitor_manager =
     meta_backend_get_monitor_manager (backend);
   ClutterActor *stage = meta_backend_get_stage (backend);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend));
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
   g_autolist (GObject) udev_devices = NULL;
   GUdevDevice *udev_device;
   GList *logical_monitors;
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ static void
 emulate_hotplug (void)
 {
   MetaBackend *backend = meta_context_get_backend (test_context);
-  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_native_get_udev (META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend));
+  MetaUdev *udev = meta_backend_get_udev (backend);
   g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
   g_autolist (GObject) udev_devices = NULL;
   GUdevDevice *udev_device;