diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index 2696b95c79..a10b6e3a08 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -786,6 +786,9 @@ static void sdl2_display_init(DisplayState *ds, DisplayOptions *o)
                 SDL_GetError());
         exit(1);
     }
+#ifdef SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_NET_WM_BYPASS_COMPOSITOR /* only available since SDL 2.0.8 */
+    SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_NET_WM_BYPASS_COMPOSITOR, "0");
+#endif
     SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_GRAB_KEYBOARD, "1");
     memset(&info, 0, sizeof(info));
     SDL_VERSION(&info.version);