diff --git a/include/labwc.h b/include/labwc.h
index b9eeb8b9..7714411c 100644
--- a/include/labwc.h
+++ b/include/labwc.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ struct seat {
 	/* if set, views cannot receive focus */
 	struct wlr_layer_surface_v1 *focused_layer;
 
+	struct wl_client *active_client_while_inhibited;
 	struct wl_list inputs;
 	struct wl_listener new_input;
 
@@ -99,6 +100,10 @@ struct server {
 	struct wl_listener new_xwayland_surface;
 #endif
 
+	struct wlr_input_inhibit_manager *input_inhibit;
+ 	struct wl_listener input_inhibit_activate;
+	struct wl_listener input_inhibit_deactivate;
+
 	struct wl_list views;
 	struct wl_list unmanaged_surfaces;
 
@@ -345,6 +350,8 @@ void cursor_init(struct seat *seat);
 
 void keyboard_init(struct seat *seat);
 
+void arrange_layers(struct output *output);
+
 void seat_init(struct server *server);
 void seat_finish(struct server *server);
 void seat_focus_surface(struct seat *seat, struct wlr_surface *surface);
@@ -375,4 +382,11 @@ void action(struct server *server, const char *action, const char *command);
 /* update onscreen display 'alt-tab' texture */
 void osd_update(struct server *server);
 
+/* wlroots "input inhibitor" extension (required for swaylock) blocks
+ * any client other than the requesting client from receiving events
+ */
+bool input_inhibit_blocks_surface(struct seat *seat,
+				  struct wl_resource *resource);
+
+
 #endif /* __LABWC_H */
diff --git a/protocols/meson.build b/protocols/meson.build
index e4841906..efd39e98 100644
--- a/protocols/meson.build
+++ b/protocols/meson.build
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ wayland_scanner_server = generator(
 server_protocols = [
 	[wl_protocol_dir, 'stable/xdg-shell/xdg-shell.xml'],
 	['wlr-layer-shell-unstable-v1.xml'],
+	['wlr-input-inhibitor-unstable-v1.xml'],
 ]
 
 server_protos_src = []
diff --git a/protocols/wlr-input-inhibitor-unstable-v1.xml b/protocols/wlr-input-inhibitor-unstable-v1.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b62d1bb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protocols/wlr-input-inhibitor-unstable-v1.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+
+
+  
+    Copyright © 2018 Drew DeVault
+
+    Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this
+    software and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted
+    without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appear in
+    all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission
+    notice appear in supporting documentation, and that the name of
+    the copyright holders not be used in advertising or publicity
+    pertaining to distribution of the software without specific,
+    written prior permission.  The copyright holders make no
+    representations about the suitability of this software for any
+    purpose.  It is provided "as is" without express or implied
+    warranty.
+
+    THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS
+    SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
+    FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+    SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+    WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN
+    AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION,
+    ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF
+    THIS SOFTWARE.
+  
+
+  
+    
+      Clients can use this interface to prevent input events from being sent to
+      any surfaces but its own, which is useful for example in lock screen
+      software. It is assumed that access to this interface will be locked down
+      to whitelisted clients by the compositor.
+    
+
+    
+      
+        Activates the input inhibitor. As long as the inhibitor is active, the
+        compositor will not send input events to other clients.
+      
+      
+    
+
+    
+      
+    
+  
+
+  
+    
+      While this resource exists, input to clients other than the owner of the
+      inhibitor resource will not receive input events. The client that owns
+      this resource will receive all input events normally. The compositor will
+      also disable all of its own input processing (such as keyboard shortcuts)
+      while the inhibitor is active.
+
+      The compositor may continue to send input events to selected clients,
+      such as an on-screen keyboard (via the input-method protocol).
+    
+
+    
+      
+        Destroy the inhibitor and allow other clients to receive input.
+      
+    
+  
+
diff --git a/src/cursor.c b/src/cursor.c
index 4f7c3830..70709593 100644
--- a/src/cursor.c
+++ b/src/cursor.c
@@ -105,6 +105,15 @@ set_cursor(struct server *server, const char *cursor_name)
 		server->seat.xcursor_manager, cursor_name, server->seat.cursor);
 }
 
+bool input_inhibit_blocks_surface(struct seat *seat,
+				  struct wl_resource *resource)
+{
+	struct wl_client * inhibiting_client =
+		seat->active_client_while_inhibited;
+	return (inhibiting_client != NULL) &&
+		inhibiting_client != wl_resource_get_client(resource);
+}
+
 static void
 process_cursor_motion(struct server *server, uint32_t time)
 {
@@ -161,7 +170,8 @@ process_cursor_motion(struct server *server, uint32_t time)
 	/* Required for iconify/maximize/close button mouse-over deco */
 	damage_all_outputs(server);
 
-	if (surface) {
+	if (surface &&
+	    ! input_inhibit_blocks_surface(&server->seat, surface->resource)) {
 		bool focus_changed =
 			wlr_seat->pointer_state.focused_surface != surface;
 		/*
diff --git a/src/desktop.c b/src/desktop.c
index 488a6db7..4c122fb0 100644
--- a/src/desktop.c
+++ b/src/desktop.c
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ desktop_set_focus_view_only(struct seat *seat, struct view *view)
 	if (!view || view->minimized || !view->mapped) {
 		return;
 	}
+	if(input_inhibit_blocks_surface(seat, view->surface->resource))
+	    return;
+
 	struct wlr_surface *prev_surface;
 	prev_surface = seat->seat->keyboard_state.focused_surface;
 	if (prev_surface == view->surface) {
@@ -96,6 +99,9 @@ desktop_focus_view(struct seat *seat, struct view *view)
 		seat_focus_surface(seat, NULL);
 		return;
 	}
+	if(input_inhibit_blocks_surface(seat, view->surface->resource))
+	    return;
+
 	if (view->minimized) {
 		/* this will unmap and then focus */
 		view_minimize(view, false);
diff --git a/src/keyboard.c b/src/keyboard.c
index 7bf5ac51..3111a979 100644
--- a/src/keyboard.c
+++ b/src/keyboard.c
@@ -41,14 +41,12 @@ handle_keybinding(struct server *server, uint32_t modifiers, xkb_keysym_t sym)
 	return false;
 }
 
-static void
-keyboard_key_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
+static bool
+handle_compositor_keybindings(struct wl_listener *listener,
+			      struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event)
 {
-	/* This event is raised when a key is pressed or released. */
 	struct seat *seat = wl_container_of(listener, seat, keyboard_key);
 	struct server *server = seat->server;
-	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event = data;
-	struct wlr_seat *wlr_seat = server->seat.seat;
 	struct wlr_input_device *device = seat->keyboard_group->input_device;
 
 	/* Translate libinput keycode -> xkbcommon */
@@ -68,13 +66,14 @@ keyboard_key_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 			/* end cycle */
 			desktop_focus_view(&server->seat, server->cycle_view);
 			server->cycle_view = NULL;
+			/* XXX should we handled=true here? */
 		} else if (event->state == WL_KEYBOARD_KEY_STATE_PRESSED) {
 			/* cycle to next */
 			server->cycle_view =
 				desktop_cycle_view(server, server->cycle_view);
 			osd_update(server);
 			damage_all_outputs(server);
-			return;
+			return true;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -95,8 +94,28 @@ keyboard_key_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	return handled;
+}
+static void
+keyboard_key_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
+{
+        /* XXX need to check if input inhibited before doing any
+	 * compositor bindings
+	 */
+
+	/* This event is raised when a key is pressed or released. */
+	struct seat *seat = wl_container_of(listener, seat, keyboard_key);
+	struct server *server = seat->server;
+	struct wlr_event_keyboard_key *event = data;
+	struct wlr_seat *wlr_seat = server->seat.seat;
+	struct wlr_input_device *device = seat->keyboard_group->input_device;
+
+	bool handled = false;
+
+	if(!seat->active_client_while_inhibited)
+		/* ignore labwc keybindings if input is inhibited */
+		handled = handle_compositor_keybindings(listener, event);
 
-	/* Otherwise, pass it to the client. */
 	if (!handled) {
 		wlr_seat_set_keyboard(wlr_seat, device);
 		wlr_seat_keyboard_notify_key(wlr_seat, event->time_msec,
diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index 45e30ef2..4542264a 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include 
 #include 
 #include 
+#include 
 #include 
 #include 
 #include "config/rcxml.h"
@@ -78,6 +79,62 @@ drop_permissions(void)
 	}
 }
 
+static void seat_inhibit_input(struct seat *seat,  struct wl_client *active_client)
+{
+	seat->active_client_while_inhibited = active_client;
+
+	if(seat->focused_layer &&
+	   (wl_resource_get_client(seat->focused_layer->resource) !=
+	    active_client))
+	{
+		seat_set_focus_layer(seat, NULL);
+	}
+	struct wlr_surface * previous_kb_surface = seat->seat->keyboard_state.focused_surface;
+	if (previous_kb_surface &&
+	    wl_resource_get_client(previous_kb_surface->resource) != active_client) {
+		seat_focus_surface(seat, NULL);	  /* keyboard focus */
+	}
+
+	struct wlr_seat_client * previous_ptr_client = seat->seat->pointer_state.focused_client;
+	if (previous_ptr_client &&
+	    (previous_ptr_client->client != active_client)) {
+		wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(seat->seat);
+	}
+}
+
+static void seat_disinhibit_input(struct seat *seat)
+{
+	seat->active_client_while_inhibited = NULL;
+	// Triggers a refocus of the topmost surface layer if necessary
+	// TODO: Make layer surface focus per-output based on cursor position
+
+	struct output *output;
+	wl_list_for_each(output, &seat->server->outputs, link)
+		arrange_layers(output);
+}
+
+
+
+static void handle_input_inhibit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "activate input inhibit");
+
+	struct server *server = wl_container_of(
+	    listener, server, input_inhibit_activate);
+
+	seat_inhibit_input(&server->seat,
+	    server->input_inhibit->active_client);
+}
+
+static void handle_input_disinhibit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "deactivate input inhibit");
+
+	struct server *server = wl_container_of(
+	    listener, server, input_inhibit_deactivate);
+
+	seat_disinhibit_input(&server->seat);
+}
+
+
 void
 server_init(struct server *server)
 {
@@ -203,6 +260,19 @@ server_init(struct server *server)
 	wlr_data_control_manager_v1_create(server->wl_display);
 	wlr_gamma_control_manager_v1_create(server->wl_display);
 
+	// struct wlr_input_inhibit_manager *input_inhibit_mgr = NULL;
+	server->input_inhibit = wlr_input_inhibit_manager_create(server->wl_display);
+	if (!server->input_inhibit) {
+		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "unable to create the input inhibit manager");
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+	}
+
+	wl_signal_add(&server->input_inhibit->events.activate, &server->input_inhibit_activate);
+	server->input_inhibit_activate.notify = handle_input_inhibit;
+
+	wl_signal_add(&server->input_inhibit->events.deactivate, &server->input_inhibit_deactivate);
+	server->input_inhibit_deactivate.notify = handle_input_disinhibit;
+
 	server->foreign_toplevel_manager =
 		wlr_foreign_toplevel_manager_v1_create(server->wl_display);