diff --git a/xwayland/xwm.c b/xwayland/xwm.c
index 26d86fb3..b9653f14 100644
--- a/xwayland/xwm.c
+++ b/xwayland/xwm.c
@@ -6,55 +6,243 @@
 #include "wlr/xwayland.h"
 #include "xwm.h"
 
+/* General helpers */
+// TODO: replace this with hash table?
+static struct wlr_x11_window *lookup_window(struct wl_list *list, xcb_window_t window_id) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	wl_list_for_each(window, list, link) {
+		if (window->window_id == window_id) {
+			return window;
+		}
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+static struct wlr_x11_window *lookup_window_any(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_window_t window_id) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	if ((window = lookup_window(&xwm->paired_windows, window_id)) ||
+			(window = lookup_window(&xwm->unpaired_windows, window_id)) ||
+			(window = lookup_window(&xwm->new_windows, window_id))) {
+		return window;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static struct wlr_x11_window *wlr_x11_window_create(struct wlr_xwm *xwm,
+		xcb_window_t window_id, int16_t x, int16_t y,
+		uint16_t width, uint16_t height, bool override_redirect) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+
+	window = calloc(1, sizeof(struct wlr_x11_window));
+	if (!window) {
+		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Could not allocate wlr x11 window");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	window->window_id = window_id;
+	window->x = x;
+	window->y = y;
+	window->width = width;
+	window->height = height;
+	window->override_redirect = override_redirect;
+	wl_list_insert(&xwm->new_windows, &window->link);
+	return window;
+}
+
+static void wlr_x11_window_destroy(struct wlr_x11_window *window) {
+	wl_list_remove(&window->link);
+	free(window);
+}
+
+/* xcb helpers */
+#define XCB_CALL(xwm, x) xcb_call(xwm, __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, x)
+static bool xcb_call(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, const char *func, uint32_t line,
+		xcb_void_cookie_t cookie) {
+	xcb_generic_error_t *error;
+	if (!(error = xcb_request_check(xwm->xcb_conn, cookie))) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	wlr_log(L_ERROR, "xcb call failed in %s:%u, x11 error code %d",
+			func, line, error->error_code);
+	free(error);
+	return false;
+}
+
+static void map_shell_surface(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, struct wlr_x11_window *window,
+		struct wlr_surface *surface) {
+
+	// get xcb geometry for depth = alpha channel
+	// TODO link to compositor somehow
+
+	wl_list_remove(&window->link);
+	wl_list_insert(&xwm->paired_windows, &window->link);
+}
+
+/* xcb event handlers */
+static void handle_create_notify(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_create_notify_event_t *ev) {
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_CREATE_NOTIFY (%u)", ev->window);
+	wlr_x11_window_create(xwm, ev->window, ev->x, ev->y,
+			ev->width, ev->height, ev->override_redirect);
+}
+
+static void handle_destroy_notify(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_destroy_notify_event_t *ev) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_DESTROY_NOTIFY (%u)", ev->window);
+	if (!(window = lookup_window_any(xwm, ev->window))) {
+		return;
+	}
+	wlr_x11_window_destroy(window);
+}
+
+static void handle_configure_request(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_configure_request_event_t *ev) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_CONFIGURE_REQUEST (%u) [%ux%u+%d,%d]", ev->window,
+                                        ev->width, ev->height, ev->x, ev->y);
+	if (!(window = lookup_window_any(xwm, ev->window))) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	window->x = ev->x;
+	window->y = ev->y;
+	window->width = ev->width;
+	window->height = ev->height;
+	// handle parent/sibling?
+}
+
+static void handle_map_request(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_map_request_event_t *ev) {
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_MAP_REQUEST (%u)", ev->window);
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_change_window_attributes_checked(xwm->xcb_conn,
+			ev->window, XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK,
+			&(uint32_t){XCB_EVENT_MASK_FOCUS_CHANGE | XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE}));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_map_window_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, ev->window));
+}
+
+static void handle_map_notify(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_map_notify_event_t *ev) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_MAP_NOTIFY (%u)", ev->window);
+	if ((window = lookup_window_any(xwm, ev->window))) {
+		window->override_redirect = ev->override_redirect;
+	} else {
+		wlr_x11_window_create(xwm, ev->window, 0, 0, 1, 1, ev->override_redirect);
+	}
+}
+
+static void handle_unmap_notify(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_unmap_notify_event_t *ev) {
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_UNMAP_NOTIFY (%u)", ev->window);
+	if (!(window = lookup_window_any(xwm, ev->window))) {
+		return;
+	}
+	// remove pointer to surface only?
+	wlr_x11_window_destroy(window);
+}
+
+static void handle_property_notify(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_property_notify_event_t *ev) {
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_PROPERTY_NOTIFY (%u)", ev->window);
+	// TODO lookup window & get properties
+}
+
+static void handle_client_message(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, xcb_client_message_event_t *ev) {
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "XCB_CLIENT_MESSAGE (%u)", ev->window);
+
+	if (ev->type == xwm->atoms[WL_SURFACE_ID]) {
+		struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+		struct wl_resource *resource;
+		window = lookup_window(&xwm->new_windows, ev->window);
+		if (!window) {
+			wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "client message WL_SURFACE_ID but no new window %u ?",
+					ev->window);
+			return;
+		}
+		window->surface_id = ev->data.data32[0];
+		/* Check if we got notified after wayland surface create event */
+		resource = wl_client_get_object(xwm->xwayland->client, window->surface_id);
+		if (resource) {
+			map_shell_surface(xwm, window, wl_resource_get_user_data(resource));
+		} else {
+			wl_list_remove(&window->link);
+			wl_list_insert(&xwm->unpaired_windows, &window->link);
+		}
+	}
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "unhandled client message %u", ev->type);
+}
 
 static int x11_event_handler(int fd, uint32_t mask, void *data) {
 	int count = 0;
 	xcb_generic_event_t *event;
-	struct wlr_xwayland *wlr_xwayland = data;
-	struct wlr_xwm *xwm = wlr_xwayland->xwm;
+	struct wlr_xwm *xwm = data;
 
 	while ((event = xcb_poll_for_event(xwm->xcb_conn))) {
 		count++;
 		switch (event->response_type & XCB_EVENT_RESPONSE_TYPE_MASK) {
 		case XCB_CREATE_NOTIFY:
-			break;
-		case XCB_CONFIGURE_REQUEST:
-			break;
-		case XCB_MAP_REQUEST:
+			handle_create_notify(xwm, (xcb_create_notify_event_t *)event);
 			break;
 		case XCB_DESTROY_NOTIFY:
+			handle_destroy_notify(xwm, (xcb_destroy_notify_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_CONFIGURE_REQUEST:
+			handle_configure_request(xwm, (xcb_configure_request_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_MAP_REQUEST:
+			handle_map_request(xwm, (xcb_map_request_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_MAP_NOTIFY:
+			handle_map_notify(xwm, (xcb_map_notify_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_UNMAP_NOTIFY:
+			handle_unmap_notify(xwm, (xcb_unmap_notify_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_PROPERTY_NOTIFY:
+			handle_property_notify(xwm, (xcb_property_notify_event_t *)event);
+			break;
+		case XCB_CLIENT_MESSAGE:
+			handle_client_message(xwm, (xcb_client_message_event_t *)event);
 			break;
 		default:
-			wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "X11 event: %d", event->response_type & XCB_EVENT_RESPONSE_TYPE_MASK);
+			wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "X11 event: %d",
+					event->response_type & XCB_EVENT_RESPONSE_TYPE_MASK);
 		}
 	}
+
+	xcb_flush(xwm->xcb_conn);
 	return count;
 }
 
 static void create_surface_handler(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 {
 	struct wlr_surface *surface = data;
-        struct wlr_xwm *xwm = wl_container_of(listener, xwm, surface_listener);
+        struct wlr_xwm *xwm = wl_container_of(listener, xwm, surface_create_listener);
+	struct wlr_x11_window *window;
+	uint32_t surface_id;
 
 	if (wl_resource_get_client(surface->resource) != xwm->xwayland->client) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "new x11 surface: %p", surface);
+	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "New x11 surface: %p", surface);
 
-	// TODO: look for unpaired window, and assign
+	surface_id = wl_resource_get_id(surface->resource);
+	wl_list_for_each(window, &xwm->unpaired_windows, link) {
+		if (window->surface_id == surface_id) {
+			map_shell_surface(xwm, window, surface);
+			xcb_flush(xwm->xcb_conn);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 static void xcb_get_resources(struct wlr_xwm *xwm) {
 	int i;
+	xcb_intern_atom_cookie_t cookies[ATOM_LAST];
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ATOM_LAST; i++) {
-		xcb_intern_atom_cookie_t cookie;
+		cookies[i] = xcb_intern_atom(xwm->xcb_conn, 0, strlen(atom_map[i]), atom_map[i]);
+	}
+	for (i = 0; i < ATOM_LAST; i++) {
 		xcb_intern_atom_reply_t *reply;
 		xcb_generic_error_t *error;
 
-		cookie = xcb_intern_atom(xwm->xcb_conn, 0, strlen(atom_map[i]), atom_map[i]);
-		reply = xcb_intern_atom_reply(xwm->xcb_conn, cookie, &error);
+		reply = xcb_intern_atom_reply(xwm->xcb_conn, cookies[i], &error);
 
 		if (reply && !error) {
 			xwm->atoms[i] = reply->atom;
@@ -71,18 +259,6 @@ static void xcb_get_resources(struct wlr_xwm *xwm) {
 	}
 }
 
-static bool xcb_call(struct wlr_xwm *xwm, const char *func, uint32_t line, xcb_void_cookie_t cookie) {
-	xcb_generic_error_t *error;
-	if (!(error = xcb_request_check(xwm->xcb_conn, cookie))) {
-		return true;
-	}
-
-	wlr_log(L_ERROR, "xcb call failed in %s:%u, x11 error code %d", func, line, error->error_code);
-	free(error);
-	return false;
-}
-#define XCB_CALL(xwm, x) xcb_call(xwm, __PRETTY_FUNCTION__, __LINE__, x)
-
 static void xcb_init_wm(struct wlr_xwm *xwm) {
 	xcb_screen_iterator_t screen_iterator;
 	screen_iterator = xcb_setup_roots_iterator(xcb_get_setup(xwm->xcb_conn));
@@ -90,21 +266,28 @@ static void xcb_init_wm(struct wlr_xwm *xwm) {
 
 	xwm->window = xcb_generate_id(xwm->xcb_conn);
 
-	uint32_t values[] = { XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_NOTIFY | XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_REDIRECT | XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE /* , xwm->cursor */ };
+	uint32_t values[] = { XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_NOTIFY | XCB_EVENT_MASK_SUBSTRUCTURE_REDIRECT | XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE,
+		/* , xwm->cursor */ };
 	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_change_window_attributes_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->screen->root,
-				XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK /* | XCB_CW_CURSOR */, values));
-	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_composite_redirect_subwindows_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->screen->root, XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL));
+			XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK /* | XCB_CW_CURSOR */, values));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_composite_redirect_subwindows_checked(xwm->xcb_conn,
+			xwm->screen->root, XCB_COMPOSITE_REDIRECT_MANUAL));
 
-	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_create_window_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT, xwm->window, xwm->screen->root,
-				0, 0, 1, 1, 0, XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_OUTPUT, xwm->screen->root_visual,
-				XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK, (uint32_t[]){XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE}));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_create_window_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, XCB_COPY_FROM_PARENT,
+			xwm->window, xwm->screen->root, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0,
+			XCB_WINDOW_CLASS_INPUT_OUTPUT, xwm->screen->root_visual,
+			XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK, (uint32_t[]){XCB_EVENT_MASK_PROPERTY_CHANGE}));
 	xcb_atom_t supported[] = {
 		xwm->atoms[NET_WM_STATE],
 	};
-	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_change_property_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, XCB_PROP_MODE_REPLACE, xwm->screen->root, xwm->atoms[NET_SUPPORTED], XCB_ATOM_ATOM, 32, sizeof(supported)/sizeof(*supported), supported));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_change_property_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, XCB_PROP_MODE_REPLACE,
+			xwm->screen->root, xwm->atoms[NET_SUPPORTED], XCB_ATOM_ATOM,
+			32, sizeof(supported)/sizeof(*supported), supported));
 
-	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_set_selection_owner_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->window, xwm->atoms[WM_S0], XCB_CURRENT_TIME));
-	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_set_selection_owner_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->window, xwm->atoms[NET_WM_S0], XCB_CURRENT_TIME));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_set_selection_owner_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->window,
+			xwm->atoms[WM_S0], XCB_CURRENT_TIME));
+	XCB_CALL(xwm, xcb_set_selection_owner_checked(xwm->xcb_conn, xwm->window,
+			xwm->atoms[NET_WM_S0], XCB_CURRENT_TIME));
 	xcb_flush(xwm->xcb_conn);
 }
 
@@ -120,19 +303,23 @@ void xwm_destroy(struct wlr_xwm *xwm) {
 
 struct wlr_xwm *xwm_create(struct wlr_xwayland *wlr_xwayland) {
 	struct wlr_xwm *xwm = calloc(1, sizeof(struct wlr_xwm));
+	int rc;
 
 	xwm->xwayland = wlr_xwayland;
+	wl_list_init(&xwm->new_windows);
+	wl_list_init(&xwm->unpaired_windows);
+	wl_list_init(&xwm->paired_windows);
 
 	xwm->xcb_conn = xcb_connect_to_fd(wlr_xwayland->wm_fd[0], NULL);
-	if (xcb_connection_has_error(xwm->xcb_conn)) {
+	if ((rc = xcb_connection_has_error(xwm->xcb_conn))) {
+		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "xcb connect failed: %d", rc);
 		free(xwm);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-
         struct wl_event_loop *event_loop = wl_display_get_event_loop(wlr_xwayland->wl_display);
 	xwm->event_source = wl_event_loop_add_fd(event_loop, wlr_xwayland->wm_fd[0],
-			WL_EVENT_READABLE, x11_event_handler, wlr_xwayland);
+			WL_EVENT_READABLE, x11_event_handler, xwm);
 	// probably not needed
 	// wl_event_source_check(xwm->event_source);
 
@@ -141,9 +328,9 @@ struct wlr_xwm *xwm_create(struct wlr_xwayland *wlr_xwayland) {
 	xcb_get_resources(xwm);
 	xcb_init_wm(xwm);
 
-	xwm->surface_listener.notify = create_surface_handler;
+	xwm->surface_create_listener.notify = create_surface_handler;
 	wl_signal_add(&wlr_xwayland->compositor->create_surface_signal,
-			&xwm->surface_listener);
+			&xwm->surface_create_listener);
 
 	return xwm;
 }
diff --git a/xwayland/xwm.h b/xwayland/xwm.h
index cfdd95f5..51d60395 100644
--- a/xwayland/xwm.h
+++ b/xwayland/xwm.h
@@ -65,16 +65,31 @@ static const char * const atom_map[ATOM_LAST] = {
 	"_NET_WM_STATE",
 };
 
+struct wlr_x11_window {
+	xcb_window_t window_id;
+	uint32_t surface_id;
+	struct wl_list link;
+
+	struct wl_resource *surface;
+	struct wl_listener surface_destroy_listener;
+	int16_t x, y;
+	uint16_t width, height;
+	bool override_redirect;
+};
 
 struct wlr_xwm {
 	struct wlr_xwayland *xwayland;
 	struct wl_event_source *event_source;
-	struct wl_listener surface_listener;
+	struct wl_listener surface_create_listener;
 
 	xcb_atom_t atoms[ATOM_LAST];
 	xcb_connection_t *xcb_conn;
 	xcb_screen_t *screen;
 	xcb_window_t window;
+
+	struct wl_list new_windows;
+	struct wl_list unpaired_windows;
+	struct wl_list paired_windows;
 };
 
 void xwm_destroy(struct wlr_xwm *xwm);