diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.h
index 8bfa6d580..16579c0a5 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_present_scheduler_create(struct wlr_output *outp
  * render loop, it emits the frame signal when the compositor's event loop is idle.
  */
 struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_wl_scheduler_create(struct wlr_output *output);
+/**
+ * The interval scheduler maintains a render loop based on a timer. To wake the render loop, it
+ * emits the frame signal when the compositor's event loop is idle.
+ */
+struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_interval_scheduler_create(struct wlr_output *output);
 
 /**
  * Creates an appropriate frame scheduler for the given output's backend capabilities.
diff --git a/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.c b/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.c
index a76a591d1..f7ffa5ddb 100644
--- a/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.c
+++ b/types/wlr_frame_scheduler.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <backend/headless.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <types/wlr_output.h>
 #include <wayland-client-protocol.h>
@@ -215,11 +216,82 @@ static struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wl_scheduler_create(struct wlr_output *output
 	return &scheduler->base.base;
 }
 
+#define DEFAULT_REFRESH (60 * 1000) // 60 Hz in mHz
+
+struct interval_scheduler {
+	struct idle_frame_scheduler base;
+	struct wl_event_source *frame_timer;
+	struct wl_listener commit;
+
+	int32_t frame_delay;
+};
+
+static void interval_scheduler_destroy(struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_scheduler) {
+	struct interval_scheduler *scheduler = wl_container_of(wlr_scheduler, scheduler, base.base);
+	idle_frame_scheduler_finish(&scheduler->base);
+	wl_event_source_remove(scheduler->frame_timer);
+	wl_list_remove(&scheduler->commit.link);
+	free(scheduler);
+}
+
+static void interval_scheduler_handle_commit(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
+	struct interval_scheduler *scheduler = wl_container_of(listener, scheduler, commit);
+	struct wlr_output_event_commit *commit = data;
+	struct wlr_output *output = commit->output;
+	if (commit->state->committed & WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_MODE) {
+		int32_t refresh = output->refresh ? output->refresh : DEFAULT_REFRESH;
+		scheduler->frame_delay = 1000 * 1000 / refresh;
+	}
+
+	if (output->enabled) {
+		assert(scheduler->frame_delay != 0);
+		wl_event_source_timer_update(scheduler->frame_timer, scheduler->frame_delay);
+		idle_frame_scheduler_set_frame_pending(&scheduler->base);
+	}
+}
+
+static int interval_scheduler_handle_timer(void *data) {
+	struct interval_scheduler *scheduler = data;
+	idle_frame_scheduler_emit_frame(&scheduler->base);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static const struct wlr_frame_scheduler_impl interval_scheduler_impl = {
+	.schedule_frame = idle_frame_scheduler_schedule_frame,
+	.destroy = interval_scheduler_destroy,
+};
+
+struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_interval_scheduler_create(struct wlr_output *output) {
+	if (!wlr_output_is_headless(output)) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	struct interval_scheduler *scheduler = calloc(1, sizeof(*scheduler));
+	if (!scheduler) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	wlr_frame_scheduler_init(&scheduler->base.base, &interval_scheduler_impl, output);
+
+	scheduler->frame_delay = 1000 * 1000 / DEFAULT_REFRESH;
+
+	scheduler->frame_timer = wl_event_loop_add_timer(output->event_loop,
+		interval_scheduler_handle_timer, scheduler);
+
+	scheduler->commit.notify = interval_scheduler_handle_commit;
+	wl_signal_add(&output->events.commit, &scheduler->commit);
+
+	return &scheduler->base.base;
+}
+
 struct wlr_frame_scheduler *wlr_frame_scheduler_autocreate(struct wlr_output *output) {
 	if (wlr_output_is_wl(output) && !wlr_wl_backend_has_presentation_time(output->backend)) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "wp_presentation not available, falling back to frame callbacks");
 		return wl_scheduler_create(output);
 	}
 
+	if (wlr_output_is_headless(output)) {
+		return wlr_interval_scheduler_create(output);
+	}
+
 	return wlr_present_scheduler_create(output);
 }