--- a/src/backend/drm/impl/Legacy.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/drm/impl/Legacy.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
     if (!connector->output->cursorVisible || !connector->output->state->state().enabled || !connector->crtc || !connector->crtc->cursor)
         return true;
 
+    // move the cursor plane immediately via the legacy ioctl instead of
+    // waiting for the next vblank-bound commit
+    drmModeMoveCursor(connector->backend->gpu->fd, connector->crtc->id, (int)connector->output->cursorPos.x, (int)connector->output->cursorPos.y);
+
     if (!skipSchedule)
         connector->output->scheduleFrame(IOutput::AQ_SCHEDULE_CURSOR_MOVE);
 
@@ -123,7 +127,7 @@
             connector->backend->backend->log(AQ_LOG_ERROR, std::format("legacy drm: cursor drmIoctl failed: {}", strerror(errno)));
             return false;
         }
-    } else if (drmModeSetCursor(connector->backend->gpu->fd, connector->crtc->id, 0, 0, 0))
+    } else if (!connector->output->cursorVisible && drmModeSetCursor(connector->backend->gpu->fd, connector->crtc->id, 0, 0, 0))
         connector->backend->backend->log(AQ_LOG_ERROR, "legacy drm: cursor null failed");
 
     if (!enable)