diff --git a/src/backends/meta-cursor-sprite-xcursor.c b/src/backends/meta-cursor-sprite-xcursor.c
index 599d0e697..730d32351 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-cursor-sprite-xcursor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-cursor-sprite-xcursor.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ translate_meta_cursor (MetaCursor cursor)
       return "crosshair";
     case META_CURSOR_IBEAM:
       return "xterm";
+    case META_CURSOR_BLANK:
     case META_CURSOR_NONE:
     case META_CURSOR_LAST:
       break;
@@ -93,6 +94,48 @@ translate_meta_cursor (MetaCursor cursor)
   return NULL;
 }
 
+static Cursor
+create_blank_cursor (Display *xdisplay)
+{
+  Pixmap pixmap;
+  XColor color;
+  Cursor cursor;
+  XGCValues gc_values;
+  GC gc;
+
+  pixmap = XCreatePixmap (xdisplay, DefaultRootWindow (xdisplay), 1, 1, 1);
+
+  gc_values.foreground = BlackPixel (xdisplay, DefaultScreen (xdisplay));
+  gc = XCreateGC (xdisplay, pixmap, GCForeground, &gc_values);
+
+  XFillRectangle (xdisplay, pixmap, gc, 0, 0, 1, 1);
+
+  color.pixel = 0;
+  color.red = color.blue = color.green = 0;
+
+  cursor = XCreatePixmapCursor (xdisplay, pixmap, pixmap, &color, &color, 1, 1);
+
+  XFreeGC (xdisplay, gc);
+  XFreePixmap (xdisplay, pixmap);
+
+  return cursor;
+}
+
+static XcursorImages *
+create_blank_cursor_images (void)
+{
+  XcursorImages *images;
+
+  images = XcursorImagesCreate (1);
+  images->images[0] = XcursorImageCreate (1, 1);
+
+  images->images[0]->xhot = 0;
+  images->images[0]->yhot = 0;
+  memset (images->images[0]->pixels, 0, sizeof(int32_t));
+
+  return images;
+}
+
 MetaCursor
 meta_cursor_sprite_xcursor_get_cursor (MetaCursorSpriteXcursor *sprite_xcursor)
 {
@@ -103,12 +146,18 @@ Cursor
 meta_create_x_cursor (Display    *xdisplay,
                       MetaCursor  cursor)
 {
+  if (cursor == META_CURSOR_BLANK)
+    return create_blank_cursor (xdisplay);
+
   return XcursorLibraryLoadCursor (xdisplay, translate_meta_cursor (cursor));
 }
 
 static XcursorImages *
 load_cursor_on_client (MetaCursor cursor, int scale)
 {
+  if (cursor == META_CURSOR_BLANK)
+    return create_blank_cursor_images ();
+
   return XcursorLibraryLoadImages (translate_meta_cursor (cursor),
                                    meta_prefs_get_cursor_theme (),
                                    meta_prefs_get_cursor_size () * scale);
diff --git a/src/meta/common.h b/src/meta/common.h
index 908dc9337..c4f634bd7 100644
--- a/src/meta/common.h
+++ b/src/meta/common.h
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ typedef enum
  * @META_CURSOR_POINTING_HAND: pointing hand
  * @META_CURSOR_CROSSHAIR: crosshair (action forbidden)
  * @META_CURSOR_IBEAM: I-beam (text input)
+ * @META_CURSOR_BLANK: Invisible cursor
  */
 typedef enum
 {
@@ -226,6 +227,7 @@ typedef enum
   META_CURSOR_POINTING_HAND,
   META_CURSOR_CROSSHAIR,
   META_CURSOR_IBEAM,
+  META_CURSOR_BLANK,
   META_CURSOR_LAST
 } MetaCursor;