diff --git a/include/sway/input/cursor.h b/include/sway/input/cursor.h
index a16b793b5..64917ce5b 100644
--- a/include/sway/input/cursor.h
+++ b/include/sway/input/cursor.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ struct sway_cursor {
 	struct wlr_xcursor_manager *xcursor_manager;
 
 	double x, y;
+	struct wl_client *image_client;
 
 	struct wl_listener motion;
 	struct wl_listener motion_absolute;
diff --git a/sway/input/cursor.c b/sway/input/cursor.c
index 717d864b5..d814e08ea 100644
--- a/sway/input/cursor.c
+++ b/sway/input/cursor.c
@@ -81,6 +81,18 @@ static void cursor_send_pointer_motion(struct sway_cursor *cursor,
 	struct sway_container *cont =
 		container_at_cursor(cursor, &surface, &sx, &sy);
 
+	// reset cursor if switching between clients
+	struct wl_client *client = NULL;
+	if (surface != NULL) {
+		client = wl_resource_get_client(surface->resource);
+	}
+	if (client != cursor->image_client) {
+		wlr_xcursor_manager_set_cursor_image(cursor->xcursor_manager,
+			"left_ptr", cursor->cursor);
+		cursor->image_client = client;
+	}
+
+	// send pointer enter/leave
 	if (cont != NULL && surface != NULL) {
 		wlr_seat_pointer_notify_enter(seat, surface, sx, sy);
 		wlr_seat_pointer_notify_motion(seat, time, sx, sy);
@@ -167,7 +179,24 @@ static void handle_request_set_cursor(struct wl_listener *listener,
 	struct sway_cursor *cursor =
 		wl_container_of(listener, cursor, request_set_cursor);
 	struct wlr_seat_pointer_request_set_cursor_event *event = data;
-	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO: handle request set cursor event: %p", event);
+
+	struct wl_client *focused_client = NULL;
+	struct wlr_surface *focused_surface =
+		cursor->seat->wlr_seat->pointer_state.focused_surface;
+	if (focused_surface != NULL) {
+		focused_client = wl_resource_get_client(focused_surface->resource);
+	}
+
+	// TODO: check cursor mode
+	if (focused_client == NULL ||
+			event->seat_client->client != focused_client) {
+		wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "denying request to set cursor from unfocused client");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	wlr_cursor_set_surface(cursor->cursor, event->surface, event->hotspot_x,
+		event->hotspot_y);
+	cursor->image_client = focused_client;
 }
 
 void sway_cursor_destroy(struct sway_cursor *cursor) {