diff --git a/src/core/events.c b/src/core/events.c
index 43efe1d9d..263f76bce 100644
--- a/src/core/events.c
+++ b/src/core/events.c
@@ -93,6 +93,15 @@ handle_idletime_for_event (const ClutterEvent *event)
       if (device == NULL)
         return;
 
+      if (event->any.flags & CLUTTER_EVENT_FLAG_SYNTHETIC ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_ENTER ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_LEAVE ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_STAGE_STATE ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_DESTROY_NOTIFY ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_CLIENT_MESSAGE ||
+          event->type == CLUTTER_DELETE)
+        return;
+
       device_id = clutter_input_device_get_device_id (device);
 
       core_monitor = meta_idle_monitor_get_core ();