diff --git a/libavdevice/x11grab.c b/libavdevice/x11grab.c
index 4379e1b1cd..1481e7d871 100644
--- a/libavdevice/x11grab.c
+++ b/libavdevice/x11grab.c
@@ -391,6 +391,14 @@ static void paint_mouse_pointer(XImage *image, AVFormatContext *s1)
     uint8_t *pix = image->data;
     Window root;
     XSetWindowAttributes attr;
+    Bool pointer_on_screen;
+    Window w;
+    int _;
+
+    root = DefaultRootWindow(dpy);
+    pointer_on_screen = XQueryPointer(dpy, root, &w, &w, &_, &_, &_, &_, &_);
+    if (!pointer_on_screen)
+        return;
 
     /* Code doesn't currently support 16-bit or PAL8 */
     if (image->bits_per_pixel != 24 && image->bits_per_pixel != 32)
@@ -398,7 +406,6 @@ static void paint_mouse_pointer(XImage *image, AVFormatContext *s1)
 
     if (!s->c)
         s->c = XCreateFontCursor(dpy, XC_left_ptr);
-    root = DefaultRootWindow(dpy);
     attr.cursor = s->c;
     XChangeWindowAttributes(dpy, root, CWCursor, &attr);