diff --git a/docs/env_vars.md b/docs/env_vars.md
index b28849cc..34d91579 100644
--- a/docs/env_vars.md
+++ b/docs/env_vars.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ wlroots specific
 * *WLR_X11_OUTPUTS*: when using the X11 backend specifies the number of outputs
 * *WLR_HEADLESS_OUTPUTS*: when using the headless backend specifies the number
   of outputs
+* *WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS*: set to 1 to use software cursors instead of
+  hardware cursors
 
 rootston specific
 ------------------
diff --git a/types/wlr_output.c b/types/wlr_output.c
index abbdab9c..3a911f4b 100644
--- a/types/wlr_output.c
+++ b/types/wlr_output.c
@@ -720,6 +720,13 @@ static bool output_cursor_attempt_hardware(struct wlr_output_cursor *cursor) {
 		transform = cursor->surface->current.transform;
 	}
 
+	const char *no_hardware_cursors = getenv("WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS");
+	if (no_hardware_cursors != NULL && strcmp(no_hardware_cursors, "1") == 0) {
+		wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG,
+			"WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS set, forcing software cursors");
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	struct wlr_output_cursor *hwcur = cursor->output->hardware_cursor;
 	if (cursor->output->impl->set_cursor && (hwcur == NULL || hwcur == cursor)) {
 		// If the cursor was hidden or was a software cursor, the hardware