diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index 16797dc5..9cd30308 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -384,6 +384,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     if(xcb_connection_has_error(globalconf.connection))
         fatal("cannot open display");
 
+    /* Grab server */
+    xcb_grab_server(globalconf.connection);
+
     /* Get the file descriptor corresponding to the X connection */
     xfd = xcb_get_file_descriptor(globalconf.connection);
     ev_io_init(&xio, &a_xcb_io_cb, xfd, EV_READ);
@@ -509,6 +512,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     /* refresh everything before waiting events */
     awesome_refresh(globalconf.connection);
 
+    /* Grab server */
+    xcb_ungrab_server(globalconf.connection);
+
     /* main event loop */
     ev_loop(globalconf.loop, 0);