diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
index 1e434af2f..3f58fcdf3 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-impl.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ enum
 {
   KBD_A11Y_FLAGS_CHANGED,
   KBD_A11Y_MODS_STATE_CHANGED,
+  TOUCH_MODE,
   N_SIGNALS
 };
 
@@ -1443,7 +1444,7 @@ update_touch_mode (MetaSeatImpl *seat)
   if (seat->touch_mode != touch_mode)
     {
       seat->touch_mode = touch_mode;
-      g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (seat->seat), "touch-mode");
+      g_signal_emit (seat, signals[TOUCH_MODE], 0, touch_mode);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2732,6 +2733,13 @@ meta_seat_impl_class_init (MetaSeatImplClass *klass)
                   0, NULL, NULL, NULL,
                   G_TYPE_NONE, 2,
                   G_TYPE_UINT, G_TYPE_UINT);
+  signals[TOUCH_MODE] =
+    g_signal_new ("touch-mode",
+                  G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS (object_class),
+                  G_SIGNAL_RUN_LAST,
+                  0, NULL, NULL,
+                  g_cclosure_marshal_VOID__BOOLEAN,
+                  G_TYPE_NONE, 1, G_TYPE_BOOLEAN);
 
   g_object_class_install_properties (object_class, N_PROPS, props);
 }
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.c b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.c
index d64820759..33278ceff 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.c
@@ -128,6 +128,15 @@ proxy_kbd_a11y_mods_state_changed (MetaSeatImpl   *impl,
                          new_locked_mods);
 }
 
+static void
+proxy_touch_mode_changed (MetaSeatImpl   *impl,
+                          gboolean        enabled,
+                          MetaSeatNative *seat_native)
+{
+  seat_native->touch_mode = enabled;
+  g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (seat_native), "touch-mode");
+}
+
 static void
 meta_seat_native_constructed (GObject *object)
 {
@@ -138,6 +147,8 @@ meta_seat_native_constructed (GObject *object)
                     G_CALLBACK (proxy_kbd_a11y_flags_changed), seat);
   g_signal_connect (seat->impl, "kbd-a11y-mods-state-changed",
                     G_CALLBACK (proxy_kbd_a11y_mods_state_changed), seat);
+  g_signal_connect (seat->impl, "touch-mode",
+                    G_CALLBACK (proxy_touch_mode_changed), seat);
 
   seat->core_pointer = meta_seat_impl_get_pointer (seat->impl);
   seat->core_keyboard = meta_seat_impl_get_keyboard (seat->impl);
@@ -181,7 +192,7 @@ meta_seat_native_get_property (GObject    *object,
       g_value_set_string (value, seat_native->seat_id);
       break;
     case PROP_TOUCH_MODE:
-      g_value_set_boolean (value, seat_native->impl->touch_mode);
+      g_value_set_boolean (value, seat_native->touch_mode);
       break;
     default:
       G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.h b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.h
index 8bc50856c..ac42bcbfb 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.h
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-seat-native.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ struct _MetaSeatNative
   GHashTable *tablet_cursors;
 
   gboolean released;
+  gboolean touch_mode;
 };
 
 #define META_TYPE_SEAT_NATIVE meta_seat_native_get_type ()
@@ -117,5 +118,8 @@ MetaCursorRenderer * meta_seat_native_get_cursor_renderer (MetaSeatNative     *s
 
 void meta_seat_native_set_viewports (MetaSeatNative   *seat,
                                      MetaViewportInfo *viewports);
+void meta_seat_native_notify_kbd_a11y_change (MetaSeatNative        *seat,
+                                              MetaKeyboardA11yFlags  new_flags,
+                                              MetaKeyboardA11yFlags  what_changed);
 
 #endif /* META_SEAT_NATIVE_H */