diff --git a/locker/src/monitor.rs b/locker/src/monitor.rs
index 9acb72c..7c9d56d 100644
--- a/locker/src/monitor.rs
+++ b/locker/src/monitor.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-use log::{debug, warn};
-use std::cmp;
+use log::{debug, error, warn};
+use std::{cmp, thread, time::Duration};
 use xcb::{x, randr, Xid};
 
 use bscreensaver_util::{BSCREENSAVER_WM_CLASS, create_atom, destroy_cursor, destroy_pixmap, destroy_gc, destroy_window};
@@ -238,38 +238,65 @@ impl<'a> Monitor<'a> {
             self.conn.check_request(cookie)?;
         }
 
-        let cookie = self.conn.send_request(&x::GrabKeyboard {
-            owner_events: true,
-            grab_window: self.unlock_window,
-            time: x::CURRENT_TIME,
-            pointer_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
-            keyboard_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
-        });
-        let reply = self.conn.wait_for_reply(cookie)?;
-        if reply.status() != x::GrabStatus::Success {
-            // FIXME: try to grab later?
-            warn!("Failed to grab keyboard on window {:?}: {:?}", self.blanker_window, reply.status());
+        if let Err(err) = self.grab_keyboard() {
+            warn!("Failed to grab keyboard on window {:?}: {:?}", self.blanker_window, err);
         }
-
-        let cookie = self.conn.send_request(&x::GrabPointer {
-            owner_events: true,
-            grab_window: self.unlock_window,
-            event_mask: x::EventMask::BUTTON_PRESS | x::EventMask::BUTTON_RELEASE | x::EventMask::POINTER_MOTION | x::EventMask::POINTER_MOTION_HINT,
-            pointer_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
-            keyboard_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
-            confine_to: self.blanker_window,
-            cursor: x::CURSOR_NONE,
-            time: x::CURRENT_TIME,
-        });
-        let reply = self.conn.wait_for_reply(cookie)?;
-        if reply.status() != x::GrabStatus::Success {
-            // FIXME: try to grab later?
-            warn!("Failed to grab pointer on window {:?}: {:?}", self.blanker_window, reply.status());
+        if let Err(err) = self.grab_pointer() {
+            error!("Failed to grab pointer on window {:?}: {:?}", self.blanker_window, err);
         }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    fn grab_keyboard(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let mut attempts_remaining = 10;
+        loop {
+            let cookie = self.conn.send_request(&x::GrabKeyboard {
+                owner_events: true,
+                grab_window: self.unlock_window,
+                time: x::CURRENT_TIME,
+                pointer_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
+                keyboard_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
+            });
+            let reply = self.conn.wait_for_reply(cookie)?;
+            if reply.status() == x::GrabStatus::Success {
+                break Ok(());
+            } else if attempts_remaining > 0 {
+                attempts_remaining -= 1;
+                warn!("Failed to grab keyboard ({:?}); retrying", reply.status());
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(25));
+            } else {
+                break Err(anyhow::anyhow!("{:?}", reply.status()));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn grab_pointer(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let mut attempts_remaining = 10;
+        loop {
+            let cookie = self.conn.send_request(&x::GrabPointer {
+                owner_events: true,
+                grab_window: self.unlock_window,
+                event_mask: x::EventMask::BUTTON_PRESS | x::EventMask::BUTTON_RELEASE | x::EventMask::POINTER_MOTION | x::EventMask::POINTER_MOTION_HINT,
+                pointer_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
+                keyboard_mode: x::GrabMode::Async,
+                confine_to: self.blanker_window,
+                cursor: x::CURSOR_NONE,
+                time: x::CURRENT_TIME,
+            });
+            let reply = self.conn.wait_for_reply(cookie)?;
+            if reply.status() == x::GrabStatus::Success {
+                break Ok(());
+            } else if attempts_remaining > 0 {
+                attempts_remaining -= 1;
+                warn!("Failed to grab pointer ({:?}); retrying", reply.status());
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(25));
+            } else {
+                break Err(anyhow::anyhow!("{:?}", reply.status()));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn unlock(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let mut cookies = Vec::new();