diff --git a/backend/x11/backend.c b/backend/x11/backend.c
index efb9ecf7..fe66bdd8 100644
--- a/backend/x11/backend.c
+++ b/backend/x11/backend.c
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ static void handle_x11_event(struct wlr_x11_backend *x11,
 		struct wlr_x11_output *output =
 			get_x11_output_from_window_id(x11, ev->window);
 		if (output != NULL) {
+			pixman_region32_union_rect(
+				&output->exposed, &output->exposed,
+				ev->x, ev->y, ev->width, ev->height);
 			wlr_output_update_needs_frame(&output->wlr_output);
 		}
 		break;
diff --git a/backend/x11/output.c b/backend/x11/output.c
index e34b9913..96f8da38 100644
--- a/backend/x11/output.c
+++ b/backend/x11/output.c
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ static void output_destroy(struct wlr_output *wlr_output) {
 	struct wlr_x11_output *output = get_x11_output_from_output(wlr_output);
 	struct wlr_x11_backend *x11 = output->x11;
 
+	pixman_region32_fini(&output->exposed);
+
 	wlr_input_device_destroy(&output->pointer_dev);
 	wlr_input_device_destroy(&output->touch_dev);
 
@@ -242,10 +244,10 @@ static bool output_commit_buffer(struct wlr_x11_output *output) {
 
 	xcb_xfixes_region_t region = XCB_NONE;
 	if (output->wlr_output.pending.committed & WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_DAMAGE) {
-		pixman_region32_t *damage = &output->wlr_output.pending.damage;
+		pixman_region32_union(&output->exposed, &output->exposed, &output->wlr_output.pending.damage);
 
 		int rects_len = 0;
-		pixman_box32_t *rects = pixman_region32_rectangles(damage, &rects_len);
+		pixman_box32_t *rects = pixman_region32_rectangles(&output->exposed, &rects_len);
 
 		xcb_rectangle_t *xcb_rects = calloc(rects_len, sizeof(xcb_rectangle_t));
 		if (!xcb_rects) {
@@ -268,6 +270,8 @@ static bool output_commit_buffer(struct wlr_x11_output *output) {
 		free(xcb_rects);
 	}
 
+	pixman_region32_clear(&output->exposed);
+
 	uint32_t serial = output->wlr_output.commit_seq;
 	uint32_t options = 0;
 	uint64_t target_msc = output->last_msc ? output->last_msc + 1 : 0;
@@ -363,6 +367,7 @@ struct wlr_output *wlr_x11_output_create(struct wlr_backend *backend) {
 	}
 	output->x11 = x11;
 	wl_list_init(&output->buffers);
+	pixman_region32_init(&output->exposed);
 
 	struct wlr_output *wlr_output = &output->wlr_output;
 	wlr_output_init(wlr_output, &x11->backend, &output_impl, x11->wl_display);
diff --git a/include/backend/x11.h b/include/backend/x11.h
index 79c61b88..1b440d2a 100644
--- a/include/backend/x11.h
+++ b/include/backend/x11.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <xcb/xcb_errors.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <pixman.h>
 #include <wlr/backend/x11.h>
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_input_device.h>
 #include <wlr/interfaces/wlr_keyboard.h>
@@ -47,6 +48,8 @@ struct wlr_x11_output {
 
 	struct wl_list buffers; // wlr_x11_buffer::link
 
+	pixman_region32_t exposed;
+
 	uint64_t last_msc;
 };