diff --git a/include/rootston/cursor.h b/include/rootston/cursor.h
index fc71e31d..575c9d0e 100644
--- a/include/rootston/cursor.h
+++ b/include/rootston/cursor.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ struct roots_cursor {
 	enum roots_cursor_mode mode;
 
 	// state from input (review if this is necessary)
+	struct roots_xcursor_theme *xcursor_theme;
 	struct wlr_seat *wl_seat;
 	struct wl_client *cursor_client;
 	int offs_x, offs_y;
diff --git a/rootston/cursor.c b/rootston/cursor.c
index 46f4caea..0795cea6 100644
--- a/rootston/cursor.c
+++ b/rootston/cursor.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static void roots_cursor_update_position(struct roots_cursor *cursor, uint32_t t
 			set_compositor_cursor = view_client != cursor->cursor_client;
 		}
 		if (set_compositor_cursor) {
-			roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(desktop->xcursor_theme,
+			roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(cursor->xcursor_theme,
 				cursor->cursor);
 			cursor->cursor_client = NULL;
 		}
diff --git a/rootston/output.c b/rootston/output.c
index 943e14c0..b35e56cd 100644
--- a/rootston/output.c
+++ b/rootston/output.c
@@ -241,13 +241,14 @@ void output_add_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		wlr_output_layout_add_auto(desktop->layout, wlr_output);
 	}
 
-	if (roots_xcursor_theme_load(desktop->xcursor_theme, wlr_output->scale)) {
-		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Cannot load xcursor theme with scale %d",
-			wlr_output->scale);
-	}
-
 	struct roots_seat *seat;
 	wl_list_for_each(seat, &input->seats, link) {
+		if (roots_xcursor_theme_load(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme,
+				wlr_output->scale)) {
+			wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Cannot load xcursor theme for output '%s' "
+				"with scale %d", wlr_output->name, wlr_output->scale);
+		}
+
 		roots_seat_configure_cursor(seat);
 		roots_seat_configure_xcursor(seat);
 	}
diff --git a/rootston/seat.c b/rootston/seat.c
index 376da67f..ec4e9800 100644
--- a/rootston/seat.c
+++ b/rootston/seat.c
@@ -186,7 +186,9 @@ static void roots_seat_init_cursor(struct roots_seat *seat) {
 	struct roots_desktop *desktop = seat->input->server->desktop;
 	wlr_cursor_attach_output_layout(wlr_cursor, desktop->layout);
 
-	roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(desktop->xcursor_theme, wlr_cursor);
+	// TODO: be able to configure per-seat cursor themes
+	seat->cursor->xcursor_theme = desktop->xcursor_theme;
+	roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme, wlr_cursor);
 
 	wl_list_init(&seat->cursor->touch_points);
 
@@ -444,7 +446,7 @@ void roots_seat_remove_device(struct roots_seat *seat,
 }
 
 void roots_seat_configure_xcursor(struct roots_seat *seat) {
-	roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(seat->input->server->desktop->xcursor_theme,
+	roots_xcursor_theme_set_default(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme,
 		seat->cursor->cursor);
 	wlr_cursor_warp(seat->cursor->cursor, NULL, seat->cursor->cursor->x,
 		seat->cursor->cursor->y);
@@ -522,7 +524,7 @@ void roots_seat_begin_move(struct roots_seat *seat, struct roots_view *view) {
 	view_maximize(view, false);
 	wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(seat->seat);
 
-	roots_xcursor_theme_set_move(seat->input->server->desktop->xcursor_theme,
+	roots_xcursor_theme_set_move(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme,
 		seat->cursor->cursor);
 }
 
@@ -549,7 +551,7 @@ void roots_seat_begin_resize(struct roots_seat *seat, struct roots_view *view,
 	view_maximize(view, false);
 	wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(seat->seat);
 
-	roots_xcursor_theme_set_resize(seat->input->server->desktop->xcursor_theme,
+	roots_xcursor_theme_set_resize(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme,
 		seat->cursor->cursor, edges);
 }
 
@@ -562,6 +564,6 @@ void roots_seat_begin_rotate(struct roots_seat *seat, struct roots_view *view) {
 	view_maximize(view, false);
 	wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(seat->seat);
 
-	roots_xcursor_theme_set_rotate(seat->input->server->desktop->xcursor_theme,
+	roots_xcursor_theme_set_rotate(seat->cursor->xcursor_theme,
 		seat->cursor->cursor);
 }