diff --git a/backend/libinput/keyboard.c b/backend/libinput/keyboard.c
index 065d8ead..9a24c791 100644
--- a/backend/libinput/keyboard.c
+++ b/backend/libinput/keyboard.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ void handle_keyboard_key(struct libinput_event *event,
 	struct libinput_event_keyboard *kbevent =
 		libinput_event_get_keyboard_event(event);
 	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key wlr_event = { 0 };
+	wlr_event.device = wlr_dev;
 	wlr_event.time_msec =
 		usec_to_msec(libinput_event_keyboard_get_time_usec(kbevent));
 	wlr_event.keycode = libinput_event_keyboard_get_key(kbevent);
diff --git a/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c b/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
index deed215e..146296ae 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ static void keyboard_handle_key(void *data, struct wl_keyboard *wl_keyboard,
 	assert(dev && dev->keyboard);
 
 	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key wlr_event;
+	wlr_event.device = dev;
 	wlr_event.keycode = key;
 	wlr_event.state = state;
 	wlr_event.time_msec = time;
@@ -162,8 +163,15 @@ static void keyboard_handle_modifiers(void *data, struct wl_keyboard *wl_keyboar
 		uint32_t mods_locked, uint32_t group) {
 	struct wlr_input_device *dev = data;
 	assert(dev && dev->keyboard);
-	wlr_keyboard_notify_modifiers(dev->keyboard, mods_depressed, mods_latched,
-		mods_locked, group);
+	struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers wlr_event;
+	wlr_event.device = dev;
+	wlr_event.keyboard = dev->keyboard;
+	wlr_event.mods_depressed = mods_depressed;
+	wlr_event.mods_latched = mods_latched;
+	wlr_event.mods_locked = mods_locked;
+	wlr_event.group = group;
+
+	wlr_keyboard_notify_modifiers(dev->keyboard, &wlr_event);
 }
 
 static void keyboard_handle_repeat_info(void *data, struct wl_keyboard *wl_keyboard,
diff --git a/backend/x11/backend.c b/backend/x11/backend.c
index 97b0dd8c..f76b314e 100644
--- a/backend/x11/backend.c
+++ b/backend/x11/backend.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ static bool handle_x11_event(struct wlr_x11_backend *x11, xcb_generic_event_t *e
 	case XCB_KEY_RELEASE: {
 		xcb_key_press_event_t *ev = (xcb_key_press_event_t *)event;
 		struct wlr_event_keyboard_key key = {
+			.device = &x11->keyboard_dev,
 			.time_msec = ev->time,
 			.keycode = ev->detail - 8,
 			.state = event->response_type == XCB_KEY_PRESS ?
diff --git a/include/rootston/input.h b/include/rootston/input.h
index 6d07de43..7b1358f8 100644
--- a/include/rootston/input.h
+++ b/include/rootston/input.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ struct roots_input {
 	struct wl_list pointers;
 	struct wl_list touch;
 	struct wl_list tablet_tools;
+	struct wl_list seats;
 
 	struct wl_listener input_add;
 	struct wl_listener input_remove;
diff --git a/include/rootston/keyboard.h b/include/rootston/keyboard.h
index f4acc0aa..cb639ba1 100644
--- a/include/rootston/keyboard.h
+++ b/include/rootston/keyboard.h
@@ -8,21 +8,28 @@
 
 struct roots_keyboard {
 	struct roots_input *input;
+	struct roots_seat *seat;
 	struct wlr_input_device *device;
-	struct wl_listener key;
-	struct wl_listener modifiers;
+	struct wl_list seat_link;
+	// XXX temporary
 	struct wl_list link;
 
+	struct wl_listener keyboard_key;
+	struct wl_listener keyboard_modifiers;
+
 	xkb_keysym_t pressed_keysyms[ROOTS_KEYBOARD_PRESSED_KEYSYMS_CAP];
 };
 
 struct roots_keyboard *roots_keyboard_create(struct wlr_input_device *device,
 		struct roots_input *input);
-void roots_keyboard_destroy(struct wlr_input_device *device, struct roots_input *input);
+
+void roots_keyboard_destroy(struct wlr_input_device *device,
+		struct roots_input *input);
 
 void roots_keyboard_handle_key(struct roots_keyboard *keyboard,
 		struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event);
 
-void roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard);
+void roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard,
+		struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers *event);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/rootston/seat.h b/include/rootston/seat.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f6db63cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/rootston/seat.h
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#ifndef _ROOTSTON_SEAT_H
+#define _ROOTSTON_SEAT_H
+
+#include <wayland-server.h>
+
+#include "rootston/input.h"
+#include "rootston/keyboard.h"
+
+struct roots_seat {
+	struct roots_input *input;
+	struct wlr_seat *seat;
+	struct wl_list keyboards;
+	struct wl_list link;
+};
+
+struct roots_seat *roots_seat_create(struct roots_input *input, char *name);
+
+void roots_seat_destroy(struct roots_seat *seat);
+
+void roots_seat_add_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
+		struct roots_keyboard *keyboard);
+
+void roots_seat_remove_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
+		struct roots_keyboard *keyboard);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/wlr/interfaces/wlr_keyboard.h b/include/wlr/interfaces/wlr_keyboard.h
index 570f5721..5848416d 100644
--- a/include/wlr/interfaces/wlr_keyboard.h
+++ b/include/wlr/interfaces/wlr_keyboard.h
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ void wlr_keyboard_destroy(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard);
 void wlr_keyboard_notify_key(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard,
 		struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event);
 void wlr_keyboard_notify_modifiers(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard,
-		uint32_t mods_depressed, uint32_t mods_latched, uint32_t mods_locked,
-		uint32_t group);
+		struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers *event);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_keyboard.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_keyboard.h
index af837ff5..c42cea9c 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_keyboard.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_keyboard.h
@@ -63,12 +63,23 @@ enum wlr_key_state {
 };
 
 struct wlr_event_keyboard_key {
+	struct wlr_input_device *device;
+	struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard;
 	uint32_t time_msec;
 	uint32_t keycode;
 	bool update_state;
 	enum wlr_key_state state;
 };
 
+struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers {
+	struct wlr_input_device *device;
+	struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard;
+	uint32_t mods_depressed;
+	uint32_t mods_latched;
+	uint32_t mods_locked;
+	uint32_t group;
+};
+
 void wlr_keyboard_set_keymap(struct wlr_keyboard *kb,
 	struct xkb_keymap *keymap);
 void wlr_keyboard_led_update(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard, uint32_t leds);
diff --git a/rootston/input.c b/rootston/input.c
index 2f50c708..51a64720 100644
--- a/rootston/input.c
+++ b/rootston/input.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "rootston/keyboard.h"
 #include "rootston/pointer.h"
 #include "rootston/touch.h"
+#include "rootston/seat.h"
 
 static const char *device_type(enum wlr_input_device_type type) {
 	switch (type) {
@@ -29,15 +30,42 @@ static const char *device_type(enum wlr_input_device_type type) {
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+static struct roots_seat *input_get_seat(struct roots_input *input, char *name) {
+	struct roots_seat *seat = NULL;
+	wl_list_for_each(seat, &input->seats, link) {
+		if (strcmp(seat->seat->name, name) == 0) {
+			return seat;
+		}
+	}
+
+	seat = roots_seat_create(input, name);
+	return seat;
+}
+
 static void input_add_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	struct wlr_input_device *device = data;
 	struct roots_input *input = wl_container_of(listener, input, input_add);
+
+	char *seat_name = "seat0";
+	struct device_config *dc = config_get_device(input->config, device);
+	if (dc) {
+		seat_name = dc->seat;
+	}
+
+	struct roots_seat *seat = input_get_seat(input, seat_name);
+	if (!seat) {
+		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "could not create roots seat");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "New input device: %s (%d:%d) %s", device->name,
 			device->vendor, device->product, device_type(device->type));
 	switch (device->type) {
-	case WLR_INPUT_DEVICE_KEYBOARD:
-		roots_keyboard_create(device, input);
+	case WLR_INPUT_DEVICE_KEYBOARD: {
+		struct roots_keyboard *keyboard = roots_keyboard_create(device, input);
+		roots_seat_add_keyboard(seat, keyboard);
 		break;
+	}
 	case WLR_INPUT_DEVICE_POINTER:
 		pointer_add(device, input);
 		break;
@@ -123,6 +151,7 @@ struct roots_input *input_create(struct roots_server *server,
 	wl_list_init(&input->pointers);
 	wl_list_init(&input->touch);
 	wl_list_init(&input->tablet_tools);
+	wl_list_init(&input->seats);
 
 	input->input_add.notify = input_add_notify;
 	wl_signal_add(&server->backend->events.input_add, &input->input_add);
diff --git a/rootston/keyboard.c b/rootston/keyboard.c
index ece95245..0865f551 100644
--- a/rootston/keyboard.c
+++ b/rootston/keyboard.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 #include <xkbcommon/xkbcommon.h>
 #include "rootston/input.h"
+#include "rootston/seat.h"
 #include "rootston/keyboard.h"
 
 static ssize_t keyboard_pressed_keysym_index(struct roots_keyboard *keyboard,
@@ -85,8 +86,8 @@ static bool keyboard_keysym_press(struct roots_keyboard *keyboard,
 	}
 
 	if (keysym == XKB_KEY_Escape) {
-		wlr_seat_pointer_end_grab(keyboard->input->wl_seat);
-		wlr_seat_keyboard_end_grab(keyboard->input->wl_seat);
+		wlr_seat_pointer_end_grab(keyboard->seat->seat);
+		wlr_seat_keyboard_end_grab(keyboard->seat->seat);
 	}
 
 	uint32_t modifiers = wlr_keyboard_get_modifiers(keyboard->device->keyboard);
@@ -141,20 +142,15 @@ void roots_keyboard_handle_key(struct roots_keyboard *keyboard,
 	}
 
 	if (!handled) {
-		wlr_seat_set_keyboard(keyboard->input->wl_seat, keyboard->device);
-		wlr_seat_keyboard_notify_key(keyboard->input->wl_seat, event->time_msec,
+		wlr_seat_set_keyboard(keyboard->seat->seat, keyboard->device);
+		wlr_seat_keyboard_notify_key(keyboard->seat->seat, event->time_msec,
 			event->keycode, event->state);
 	}
 }
 
-static void handle_keyboard_key(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct roots_keyboard *keyboard = wl_container_of(listener, keyboard, key);
-	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event = data;
-	roots_keyboard_handle_key(keyboard, event);
-}
-
-void roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard) {
-	struct wlr_seat *seat = r_keyboard->input->wl_seat;
+void roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard,
+		struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers *event) {
+	struct wlr_seat *seat = r_keyboard->seat->seat;
 	struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard = r_keyboard->device->keyboard;
 	wlr_seat_set_keyboard(seat, r_keyboard->device);
 	wlr_seat_keyboard_notify_modifiers(seat,
@@ -164,12 +160,6 @@ void roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard) {
 		keyboard->modifiers.group);
 }
 
-static void handle_keyboard_modifiers(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
-	struct roots_keyboard *r_keyboard =
-		wl_container_of(listener, r_keyboard, modifiers);
-	roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(r_keyboard);
-}
-
 static void keyboard_config_merge(struct keyboard_config *config,
 		struct keyboard_config *fallback) {
 	if (fallback == NULL) {
@@ -192,7 +182,8 @@ static void keyboard_config_merge(struct keyboard_config *config,
 	}
 }
 
-struct roots_keyboard *roots_keyboard_create(struct wlr_input_device *device, struct roots_input *input) {
+struct roots_keyboard *roots_keyboard_create(struct wlr_input_device *device,
+		struct roots_input *input) {
 	struct roots_keyboard *keyboard = calloc(sizeof(struct roots_keyboard), 1);
 	if (keyboard == NULL) {
 		return NULL;
@@ -201,12 +192,7 @@ struct roots_keyboard *roots_keyboard_create(struct wlr_input_device *device, st
 	keyboard->device = device;
 	keyboard->input = input;
 
-	keyboard->key.notify = handle_keyboard_key;
-	wl_signal_add(&device->keyboard->events.key, &keyboard->key);
-
-	keyboard->modifiers.notify = handle_keyboard_modifiers;
-	wl_signal_add(&device->keyboard->events.modifiers, &keyboard->modifiers);
-
+	// XXX temporary
 	wl_list_insert(&input->keyboards, &keyboard->link);
 
 	struct keyboard_config config;
@@ -244,8 +230,6 @@ struct roots_keyboard *roots_keyboard_create(struct wlr_input_device *device, st
 
 void roots_keyboard_destroy(struct wlr_input_device *device, struct roots_input *input) {
 	struct roots_keyboard *keyboard = device->data;
-	wl_list_remove(&keyboard->key.link);
-	wl_list_remove(&keyboard->modifiers.link);
 	wl_list_remove(&keyboard->link);
 	free(keyboard);
 }
diff --git a/rootston/meson.build b/rootston/meson.build
index d84422d8..0367e43f 100644
--- a/rootston/meson.build
+++ b/rootston/meson.build
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ sources = [
 	'main.c',
 	'output.c',
 	'pointer.c',
+	'seat.c',
 	'tablet_tool.c',
 	'touch.c',
 	'xcursor.c',
diff --git a/rootston/seat.c b/rootston/seat.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2103e0d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rootston/seat.c
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#include <wayland-server.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include "rootston/input.h"
+#include "rootston/seat.h"
+#include "rootston/keyboard.h"
+
+static void handle_keyboard_key(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	struct roots_keyboard *keyboard =
+		wl_container_of(listener, keyboard, keyboard_key);
+	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event = data;
+	roots_keyboard_handle_key(keyboard, event);
+}
+
+static void handle_keyboard_modifiers(struct wl_listener *listener,
+		void *data) {
+	struct roots_keyboard *keyboard =
+		wl_container_of(listener, keyboard, keyboard_modifiers);
+	struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers *event = data;
+	roots_keyboard_handle_modifiers(keyboard, event);
+}
+
+struct roots_seat *roots_seat_create(struct roots_input *input, char *name) {
+	struct roots_seat *seat = calloc(1, sizeof(struct roots_seat));
+	if (!seat) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	seat->seat = wlr_seat_create(input->server->wl_display, name);
+	wlr_seat_set_capabilities(seat->seat,
+		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_KEYBOARD |
+		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_POINTER |
+		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_TOUCH);
+	seat->input = input;
+	wl_list_insert(&input->seats, &seat->link);
+	wl_list_init(&seat->keyboards);
+
+	return seat;
+}
+
+void roots_seat_destroy(struct roots_seat *seat) {
+	// TODO
+}
+
+void roots_seat_add_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
+		struct roots_keyboard *keyboard) {
+	if (keyboard->seat) {
+		roots_seat_remove_keyboard(keyboard->seat, keyboard);
+	}
+	keyboard->seat = seat;
+	wl_list_insert(&seat->keyboards, &keyboard->seat_link);
+
+	keyboard->keyboard_key.notify = handle_keyboard_key;
+	wl_signal_add(&keyboard->device->keyboard->events.key,
+		&keyboard->keyboard_key);
+
+	keyboard->keyboard_modifiers.notify = handle_keyboard_modifiers;
+	wl_signal_add(&keyboard->device->keyboard->events.modifiers,
+		&keyboard->keyboard_modifiers);
+}
+
+void roots_seat_remove_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
+		struct roots_keyboard *keyboard) {
+	// TODO
+}
+
diff --git a/types/wlr_keyboard.c b/types/wlr_keyboard.c
index c27264ef..c2fd9e0c 100644
--- a/types/wlr_keyboard.c
+++ b/types/wlr_keyboard.c
@@ -41,19 +41,18 @@ static void keyboard_modifier_update(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard) {
 	keyboard->modifiers.latched = latched;
 	keyboard->modifiers.locked = locked;
 	keyboard->modifiers.group = group;
-
-	wl_signal_emit(&keyboard->events.modifiers, keyboard);
 }
 
 void wlr_keyboard_notify_modifiers(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard,
-		uint32_t mods_depressed, uint32_t mods_latched, uint32_t mods_locked,
-		uint32_t group) {
+		struct wlr_event_keyboard_modifiers *event) {
 	if (!keyboard->xkb_state) {
 		return;
 	}
-	xkb_state_update_mask(keyboard->xkb_state, mods_depressed, mods_latched,
-		mods_locked, 0, 0, group);
+	xkb_state_update_mask(keyboard->xkb_state, event->mods_depressed,
+		event->mods_latched, event->mods_locked, 0, 0, event->group);
 	keyboard_modifier_update(keyboard);
+
+	wl_signal_emit(&keyboard->events.modifiers, event);
 }
 
 void wlr_keyboard_notify_key(struct wlr_keyboard *keyboard,