diff --git a/rootston/seat.c b/rootston/seat.c
index 130c7b27..c0cda3b0 100644
--- a/rootston/seat.c
+++ b/rootston/seat.c
@@ -293,11 +293,6 @@ struct roots_seat *roots_seat_create(struct roots_input *input, char *name) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	wlr_seat_set_capabilities(seat->seat,
-		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_KEYBOARD |
-		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_POINTER |
-		WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_TOUCH);
-
 	wl_list_insert(&input->seats, &seat->link);
 
 	seat->seat_destroy.notify = roots_seat_handle_seat_destroy;
@@ -306,6 +301,20 @@ struct roots_seat *roots_seat_create(struct roots_input *input, char *name) {
 	return seat;
 }
 
+static void seat_update_capabilities(struct roots_seat *seat) {
+	uint32_t caps = 0;
+	if (!wl_list_empty(&seat->keyboards)) {
+		caps |= WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_KEYBOARD;
+	}
+	if (!wl_list_empty(&seat->pointers) || !wl_list_empty(&seat->tablet_tools)) {
+		caps |= WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_POINTER;
+	}
+	if (!wl_list_empty(&seat->touch)) {
+		caps |= WL_SEAT_CAPABILITY_TOUCH;
+	}
+	wlr_seat_set_capabilities(seat->seat, caps);
+}
+
 static void seat_add_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
 		struct wlr_input_device *device) {
 	assert(device->type == WLR_INPUT_DEVICE_KEYBOARD);
@@ -404,6 +413,8 @@ void roots_seat_add_device(struct roots_seat *seat,
 		seat_add_tablet_tool(seat, device);
 		break;
 	}
+
+	seat_update_capabilities(seat);
 }
 
 static void seat_remove_keyboard(struct roots_seat *seat,
@@ -480,6 +491,8 @@ void roots_seat_remove_device(struct roots_seat *seat,
 		seat_remove_tablet_tool(seat, device);
 		break;
 	}
+
+	seat_update_capabilities(seat);
 }
 
 void roots_seat_configure_xcursor(struct roots_seat *seat) {