diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
index 0741a9100..0c640b75f 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
@@ -918,6 +918,7 @@ meta_monitor_manager_xrandr_apply_configuration (MetaMonitorManager *manager,
     }
 
   XUngrabServer (manager_xrandr->xdisplay);
+  XFlush (manager_xrandr->xdisplay);
 }
 
 static void