diff --git a/gdk/x11/gdkdrag-x11.c b/gdk/x11/gdkdrag-x11.c
index 3ae250c965..61160f9406 100644
--- a/gdk/x11/gdkdrag-x11.c
+++ b/gdk/x11/gdkdrag-x11.c
@@ -2028,6 +2028,8 @@ _gdk_x11_surface_drag_begin (GdkSurface         *surface,
   x11_drag->ipc_surface = ipc_surface;
   if (gdk_x11_surface_get_group (surface))
     gdk_x11_surface_set_group (x11_drag->ipc_surface, surface);
+
+  gdk_synthesize_surface_state (x11_drag->ipc_surface, GDK_SURFACE_STATE_WITHDRAWN, 0);
   gdk_x11_surface_show (x11_drag->ipc_surface, FALSE);
 
   x11_drag->drag_surface = create_drag_surface (display);