diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index 67f5f6a65..de3315b42 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -3677,7 +3677,8 @@ clutter_stage_notify_grab_on_pointer_entry (ClutterStage       *stage,
                                      grab_actor : old_grab_actor,
                                      entry->coords,
                                      CLUTTER_CURRENT_TIME);
-      _clutter_actor_handle_event (deepmost, topmost, event);
+      if (!_clutter_event_process_filters (event))
+        _clutter_actor_handle_event (deepmost, topmost, event);
       clutter_event_free (event);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor-private.h b/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
index 580618e48..4e4194f12 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor-private.h
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ gboolean meta_compositor_is_switching_workspace (MetaCompositor *compositor);
 
 MetaLaters * meta_compositor_get_laters (MetaCompositor *compositor);
 
+void meta_compositor_grab_begin (MetaCompositor *compositor);
+void meta_compositor_grab_end (MetaCompositor *compositor);
+
 /*
  * This function takes a 64 bit time stamp from the monotonic clock, and clamps
  * it to the scope of the X server clock, without losing the granularity.
diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor.c b/src/compositor/compositor.c
index 7d14068fd..f6aaf028c 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor.c
@@ -374,13 +374,13 @@ grab_devices (MetaModalOptions  options,
   return FALSE;
 }
 
-static void
+void
 meta_compositor_grab_begin (MetaCompositor *compositor)
 {
   META_COMPOSITOR_GET_CLASS (compositor)->grab_begin (compositor);
 }
 
-static void
+void
 meta_compositor_grab_end (MetaCompositor *compositor)
 {
   META_COMPOSITOR_GET_CLASS (compositor)->grab_end (compositor);
diff --git a/src/core/display-private.h b/src/core/display-private.h
index 8efac0b49..6b7821412 100644
--- a/src/core/display-private.h
+++ b/src/core/display-private.h
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ struct _MetaDisplay
 
   /* Opening the display */
   unsigned int display_opening : 1;
+  unsigned int grabbed_in_clutter : 1;
 
   /* Closing down the display */
   int closing;
diff --git a/src/core/events.c b/src/core/events.c
index a8f854a02..4d5f0ba30 100644
--- a/src/core/events.c
+++ b/src/core/events.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "backends/meta-idle-manager.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-backend-x11.h"
 #include "backends/x11/meta-input-device-x11.h"
+#include "compositor/compositor-private.h"
 #include "compositor/meta-window-actor-private.h"
 #include "core/display-private.h"
 #include "core/window-private.h"
@@ -67,6 +68,16 @@ stage_has_key_focus (void)
   return clutter_stage_get_key_focus (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage)) == stage;
 }
 
+static gboolean
+stage_has_grab (MetaDisplay *display)
+{
+  MetaContext *context = meta_display_get_context (display);
+  MetaBackend *backend = meta_context_get_backend (context);
+  ClutterActor *stage = meta_backend_get_stage (backend);
+
+  return clutter_stage_get_grab_actor (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage)) != NULL;
+}
+
 static MetaWindow *
 get_window_for_event (MetaDisplay        *display,
                       const ClutterEvent *event)
@@ -207,6 +218,31 @@ meta_display_handle_event (MetaDisplay        *display,
   G_GNUC_UNUSED gboolean bypass_wayland = FALSE;
   MetaGestureTracker *gesture_tracker;
   ClutterEventSequence *sequence;
+  gboolean has_grab;
+
+  has_grab = stage_has_grab (display);
+
+  if (display->grabbed_in_clutter != has_grab)
+    {
+      MetaCompositor *compositor = meta_display_get_compositor (display);
+
+#ifdef HAVE_WAYLAND
+      if (meta_is_wayland_compositor ())
+        meta_display_sync_wayland_input_focus (display);
+#endif
+
+      if (!display->grabbed_in_clutter && has_grab)
+        {
+          display->grabbed_in_clutter = TRUE;
+          meta_display_cancel_touch (display);
+          meta_compositor_grab_begin (compositor);
+        }
+      else if (display->grabbed_in_clutter && !has_grab)
+        {
+          display->grabbed_in_clutter = FALSE;
+          meta_compositor_grab_end (compositor);
+        }
+    }
 
   sequence = clutter_event_get_event_sequence (event);
 
@@ -394,6 +430,13 @@ meta_display_handle_event (MetaDisplay        *display,
       goto out;
     }
 
+  if (stage_has_grab (display))
+    {
+      bypass_wayland = TRUE;
+      bypass_clutter = FALSE;
+      goto out;
+    }
+
   if (window)
     {
       /* Events that are likely to trigger compositor gestures should
diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-pointer.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-pointer.c
index 3ae907a54..7e74b9e9e 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-pointer.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-pointer.c
@@ -268,9 +268,11 @@ sync_focus_surface (MetaWaylandPointer *pointer)
   MetaCursorTracker *cursor_tracker = meta_backend_get_cursor_tracker (backend);
   ClutterBackend *clutter_backend = clutter_get_default_backend ();
   ClutterSeat *clutter_seat = clutter_backend_get_default_seat (clutter_backend);
+  ClutterStage *stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (meta_backend_get_stage (backend));
 
-  if (!meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer_visible (cursor_tracker) &&
-      !clutter_seat_is_unfocus_inhibited (clutter_seat))
+  if (clutter_stage_get_grab_actor (stage) != NULL ||
+      (!meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer_visible (cursor_tracker) &&
+       !clutter_seat_is_unfocus_inhibited (clutter_seat)))
     {
       meta_wayland_pointer_set_focus (pointer, NULL);
       return;
@@ -441,10 +443,14 @@ default_grab_focus (MetaWaylandPointerGrab *grab,
   MetaCursorTracker *cursor_tracker = meta_backend_get_cursor_tracker (backend);
   ClutterBackend *clutter_backend = clutter_get_default_backend ();
   ClutterSeat *clutter_seat = clutter_backend_get_default_seat (clutter_backend);
+  ClutterStage *stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (meta_backend_get_stage (backend));
 
   if (!meta_wayland_seat_has_pointer (seat))
     return;
 
+  if (clutter_stage_get_grab_actor (stage) != NULL)
+    return;
+
   if (!meta_cursor_tracker_get_pointer_visible (cursor_tracker) &&
       !clutter_seat_is_unfocus_inhibited (clutter_seat))
     return;
diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-tablet-tool.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-tablet-tool.c
index eeacd9bf9..cb32168a5 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-tablet-tool.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-tablet-tool.c
@@ -553,6 +553,14 @@ sync_focus_surface (MetaWaylandTabletTool *tool,
                     const ClutterEvent    *event)
 {
   MetaDisplay *display = meta_get_display ();
+  MetaBackend *backend = meta_get_backend ();
+  ClutterStage *stage = CLUTTER_STAGE (meta_backend_get_stage (backend));
+
+  if (clutter_stage_get_grab_actor (stage))
+    {
+      meta_wayland_tablet_tool_set_focus (tool, NULL, event);
+      return;
+    }
 
   switch (display->event_route)
     {