diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_idle.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_idle.h
index 45f350be..aca9146c 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_idle.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_idle.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ struct wlr_idle {
 	struct wl_global *wl_global;
 	struct wl_list idle_timers; // wlr_idle_timeout::link
 	struct wl_event_loop *event_loop;
+	bool enabled;
 
 	struct wl_listener display_destroy;
 	struct {
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ struct wlr_idle_timeout {
 
 	struct wl_event_source *idle_source;
 	bool idle_state;
+	bool enabled;
 	uint32_t timeout; // milliseconds
 
 	struct wl_listener input_listener;
@@ -50,4 +52,11 @@ void wlr_idle_destroy(struct wlr_idle *idle);
  * compositor when there is an user activity event on that seat.
  */
 void wlr_idle_notify_activity(struct wlr_idle *idle, struct wlr_seat *seat);
+
+/**
+ * Enable or disable timers for a given idle resource by seat.
+ * Passing a NULL seat means update timers for all seats.
+ */
+void wlr_idle_set_enabled(struct wlr_idle *idle, struct wlr_seat *seat,
+	bool enabled);
 #endif
diff --git a/types/wlr_idle.c b/types/wlr_idle.c
index a3981479..fffb8d55 100644
--- a/types/wlr_idle.c
+++ b/types/wlr_idle.c
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ static int idle_notify(void *data) {
 }
 
 static void handle_activity(struct wlr_idle_timeout *timer) {
+	if (!timer->enabled) {
+		return;
+	}
 	// rearm the timer
 	wl_event_source_timer_update(timer->idle_source, timer->timeout);
 	// in case the previous state was sleeping send a resume event and switch state
@@ -106,6 +109,7 @@ static void create_idle_timer(struct wl_client *client,
 	timer->seat = client_seat->seat;
 	timer->timeout = timeout;
 	timer->idle_state = false;
+	timer->enabled = idle->enabled;
 	timer->resource = wl_resource_create(client,
 		&org_kde_kwin_idle_timeout_interface,
 		wl_resource_get_version(idle_resource), id);
@@ -135,14 +139,36 @@ static void create_idle_timer(struct wl_client *client,
 		wl_resource_post_no_memory(idle_resource);
 		return;
 	}
-	// arm the timer
-	wl_event_source_timer_update(timer->idle_source, timer->timeout);
+	if (timer->enabled) {
+		// arm the timer
+		wl_event_source_timer_update(timer->idle_source, timer->timeout);
+	}
 }
 
 static const struct org_kde_kwin_idle_interface idle_impl = {
 	.get_idle_timeout = create_idle_timer,
 };
 
+void wlr_idle_set_enabled(struct wlr_idle *idle, struct wlr_seat *seat,
+		bool enabled) {
+	if (idle->enabled == enabled) {
+		return;
+	}
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "%s idle timers for %s",
+		enabled ? "Enabling" : "Disabling",
+		seat ? seat->name : "all seats");
+	idle->enabled = enabled;
+	struct wlr_idle_timeout *timer;
+	wl_list_for_each(timer, &idle->idle_timers, link) {
+		if (seat != NULL && timer->seat != seat) {
+			continue;
+		}
+		int timeout = enabled ? timer->timeout : 0;
+		wl_event_source_timer_update(timer->idle_source, timeout);
+		timer->enabled = enabled;
+	}
+}
+
 static void idle_bind(struct wl_client *wl_client, void *data,
 		uint32_t version, uint32_t id) {
 	struct wlr_idle *idle = data;
@@ -182,6 +208,7 @@ struct wlr_idle *wlr_idle_create(struct wl_display *display) {
 	}
 	wl_list_init(&idle->idle_timers);
 	wl_signal_init(&idle->events.activity_notify);
+	idle->enabled = true;
 
 	idle->event_loop = wl_display_get_event_loop(display);
 	if (idle->event_loop == NULL) {