diff --git a/awesome.c b/awesome.c
index 2c4caa82..db4221f1 100644
--- a/awesome.c
+++ b/awesome.c
@@ -637,6 +637,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     query = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_shape_id);
     globalconf.have_shape = query->present;
 
+    event_init();
+
     /* Allocate the key symbols */
     globalconf.keysyms = xcb_key_symbols_alloc(globalconf.connection);
 
diff --git a/event.c b/event.c
index b08ce2f8..f7cdb0af 100644
--- a/event.c
+++ b/event.c
@@ -976,49 +976,34 @@ void event_handle(xcb_generic_event_t *event)
 #undef EVENT
     }
 
-    static uint8_t randr_screen_change_notify = 0;
-    static uint8_t randr_output_change_notify = 0;
-    static uint8_t shape_notify = 0;
-    static uint8_t xkb_notify = 0;
+#define EXTENSION_EVENT(base, offset, callback) \
+    if (globalconf.event_base_ ## base != 0 \
+            && response_type == globalconf.event_base_ ## base + (offset)) \
+        callback((void *) event)
+    EXTENSION_EVENT(randr, XCB_RANDR_SCREEN_CHANGE_NOTIFY, event_handle_randr_screen_change_notify);
+    EXTENSION_EVENT(randr, XCB_RANDR_NOTIFY, event_handle_randr_output_change_notify);
+    EXTENSION_EVENT(shape, XCB_SHAPE_NOTIFY, event_handle_shape_notify);
+    EXTENSION_EVENT(xkb, 0, event_handle_xkb_notify);
+#undef EXTENSION_EVENT
+}
 
-    if(randr_screen_change_notify == 0 || randr_output_change_notify == 0)
-    {
-        /* check for randr extension */
-        const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *randr_query;
-        randr_query = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_randr_id);
-        if(randr_query->present) {
-            xcb_randr_select_input(globalconf.connection, globalconf.screen->root, XCB_RANDR_NOTIFY_MASK_OUTPUT_CHANGE);
-            randr_screen_change_notify = randr_query->first_event + XCB_RANDR_SCREEN_CHANGE_NOTIFY;
-            randr_output_change_notify = randr_query->first_event + XCB_RANDR_NOTIFY;
-        }
+void event_init(void)
+{
+    const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *reply;
+
+    reply = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_randr_id);
+    if (reply && reply->present) {
+        xcb_randr_select_input(globalconf.connection, globalconf.screen->root, XCB_RANDR_NOTIFY_MASK_OUTPUT_CHANGE);
+        globalconf.event_base_randr = reply->first_event;
     }
 
-    if(shape_notify == 0)
-    {
-        /* check for shape extension */
-        const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *shape_query;
-        shape_query = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_shape_id);
-        if(shape_query->present)
-            shape_notify = shape_query->first_event + XCB_SHAPE_NOTIFY;
-    }
+    reply = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_shape_id);
+    if (reply && reply->present)
+        globalconf.event_base_shape = reply->first_event;
 
-    if(xkb_notify == 0)
-    {
-        /* check for xkb extension */
-        const xcb_query_extension_reply_t *xkb_query;
-        xkb_query = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_xkb_id);
-        if(xkb_query->present)
-            xkb_notify = xkb_query->first_event;
-    }
-
-    if (response_type == randr_screen_change_notify)
-        event_handle_randr_screen_change_notify((void *) event);
-    if (response_type == randr_output_change_notify)
-        event_handle_randr_output_change_notify((void *) event);
-    if (response_type == shape_notify)
-        event_handle_shape_notify((void *) event);
-    if (response_type == xkb_notify)
-        event_handle_xkb_notify((void *) event);
+    reply = xcb_get_extension_data(globalconf.connection, &xcb_xkb_id);
+    if (reply && reply->present)
+        globalconf.event_base_xkb = reply->first_event;
 }
 
 // vim: filetype=c:expandtab:shiftwidth=4:tabstop=8:softtabstop=4:textwidth=80
diff --git a/event.h b/event.h
index f47add4b..1d471aa3 100644
--- a/event.h
+++ b/event.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ awesome_refresh(void)
     return xcb_flush(globalconf.connection);
 }
 
+void event_init(void);
 void event_handle(xcb_generic_event_t *);
 void event_drawable_under_mouse(lua_State *, int);
 
diff --git a/globalconf.h b/globalconf.h
index be4a6535..dc407596 100644
--- a/globalconf.h
+++ b/globalconf.h
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ typedef struct
     screen_array_t screens;
     /** The primary screen, access through screen_get_primary() */
     screen_t *primary_screen;
-    /** Do we have RandR 1.3 or newer? */
-    bool have_randr_13;
     /** Root window key bindings */
     key_array_t keys;
     /** Root window mouse bindings */
@@ -92,10 +90,15 @@ typedef struct
     xcb_atom_t selection_atom;
     /** Window owning the WM_Sn selection */
     xcb_window_t selection_owner_window;
+    /** Do we have RandR 1.3 or newer? */
+    bool have_randr_13;
     /** Check for XTest extension */
     bool have_xtest;
     /** Check for SHAPE extension */
     bool have_shape;
+    uint8_t event_base_shape;
+    uint8_t event_base_xkb;
+    uint8_t event_base_randr;
     /** Clients list */
     client_array_t clients;
     /** Embedded windows */