diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
index 8165bcf5d..9177f1095 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-enums.h
@@ -1628,6 +1628,15 @@ typedef enum
   CLUTTER_PHASE_BUBBLE,
 } ClutterEventPhase;
 
+typedef enum
+{
+  CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_NONE = 0,
+  CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_POINTER = 1 << 0,
+  CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_KEYBOARD = 1 << 1,
+  CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_ALL = (CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_POINTER |
+                            CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_KEYBOARD),
+} ClutterGrabState;
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __CLUTTER_ENUMS_H__ */
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat-private.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat-private.h
index 2adb7bcd6..da6349e66 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat-private.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat-private.h
@@ -28,4 +28,9 @@
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 void clutter_seat_destroy (ClutterSeat *seat);
 
+ClutterGrabState clutter_seat_grab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                                    uint32_t     time);
+void clutter_seat_ungrab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                          uint32_t     time);
+
 #endif /* CLUTTER_SEAT_PRIVATE_H */
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.c
index 3e7435fd9..121304297 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.c
@@ -705,3 +705,27 @@ clutter_seat_destroy (ClutterSeat *seat)
   g_object_run_dispose (G_OBJECT (seat));
   g_object_unref (seat);
 }
+
+ClutterGrabState
+clutter_seat_grab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                   uint32_t     time)
+{
+  ClutterSeatClass *seat_class;
+
+  seat_class = CLUTTER_SEAT_GET_CLASS (seat);
+  if (seat_class->grab)
+    return seat_class->grab (seat, time);
+  else
+    return CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_ALL;
+}
+
+void
+clutter_seat_ungrab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                     uint32_t     time)
+{
+  ClutterSeatClass *seat_class;
+
+  seat_class = CLUTTER_SEAT_GET_CLASS (seat);
+  if (seat_class->ungrab)
+    return seat_class->ungrab (seat, time);
+}
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.h
index 5c5dfe6eb..5195b6c8b 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-seat.h
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ struct _ClutterSeatClass
                             graphene_point_t     *coords,
                             ClutterModifierType  *modifiers);
 
+  ClutterGrabState (* grab) (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                             uint32_t     time);
+  void (* ungrab) (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                   uint32_t     time);
+
   /* Virtual devices */
   ClutterVirtualInputDevice * (* create_virtual_device) (ClutterSeat            *seat,
                                                          ClutterInputDeviceType  device_type);
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
index 0cfa2e510..5cab92e4b 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-seat-x11.c
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ struct _MetaSeatX11
   int pointer_id;
   int keyboard_id;
   int opcode;
+  ClutterGrabState grab_state;
   guint has_touchscreens : 1;
   guint touch_mode : 1;
   guint has_pointer_focus : 1;
@@ -1652,6 +1653,56 @@ meta_touch_info_free (MetaTouchInfo *touch_info)
   g_free (touch_info);
 }
 
+static ClutterGrabState
+meta_seat_x11_grab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                    uint32_t     time)
+{
+  MetaSeatX11 *seat_x11 = META_SEAT_X11 (seat);
+  MetaBackend *backend = meta_get_backend ();
+  ClutterGrabState state = CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_NONE;
+
+  g_return_val_if_fail (seat_x11->grab_state == CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_NONE,
+                        seat_x11->grab_state);
+
+  if (meta_backend_grab_device (backend,
+                                META_VIRTUAL_CORE_POINTER_ID,
+                                time))
+    state |= CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_POINTER;
+
+  if (meta_backend_grab_device (backend,
+                                META_VIRTUAL_CORE_KEYBOARD_ID,
+                                time))
+    state |= CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_KEYBOARD;
+
+  seat_x11->grab_state = state;
+
+  return state;
+}
+
+static void
+meta_seat_x11_ungrab (ClutterSeat *seat,
+                      uint32_t     time)
+{
+  MetaSeatX11 *seat_x11 = META_SEAT_X11 (seat);
+  MetaBackend *backend = meta_get_backend ();
+
+  if ((seat_x11->grab_state & CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_POINTER) != 0)
+    {
+      meta_backend_ungrab_device (backend,
+                                  META_VIRTUAL_CORE_POINTER_ID,
+                                  time);
+    }
+
+  if ((seat_x11->grab_state & CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_KEYBOARD) != 0)
+    {
+      meta_backend_ungrab_device (backend,
+                                  META_VIRTUAL_CORE_KEYBOARD_ID,
+                                  time);
+    }
+
+  seat_x11->grab_state = CLUTTER_GRAB_STATE_NONE;
+}
+
 static void
 meta_seat_x11_class_init (MetaSeatX11Class *klass)
 {
@@ -1673,6 +1724,8 @@ meta_seat_x11_class_init (MetaSeatX11Class *klass)
   seat_class->warp_pointer = meta_seat_x11_warp_pointer;
   seat_class->handle_event_post = meta_seat_x11_handle_event_post;
   seat_class->query_state = meta_seat_x11_query_state;
+  seat_class->grab = meta_seat_x11_grab;
+  seat_class->ungrab = meta_seat_x11_ungrab;
 
   props[PROP_OPCODE] =
     g_param_spec_int ("opcode",