diff --git a/tools/libinput-list-devices.c b/tools/libinput-list-devices.c
index aa225ca0..4cbdf775 100644
--- a/tools/libinput-list-devices.c
+++ b/tools/libinput-list-devices.c
@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	struct libinput *li;
 	struct libinput_event *ev;
+	bool grab = false;
 
 	/* This is kept for backwards-compatibility with the old
 	   libinput-list-devices */
@@ -388,7 +389,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	li = tools_open_backend(BACKEND_UDEV, "seat0", false, false);
+	li = tools_open_backend(BACKEND_UDEV, "seat0", false, &grab);
 	if (!li)
 		return 1;
 
diff --git a/tools/shared.c b/tools/shared.c
index d1f02702..d3fb6294 100644
--- a/tools/shared.c
+++ b/tools/shared.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ open_restricted(const char *path, int flags, void *user_data)
 	if (fd < 0)
 		fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open %s (%s)\n",
 			path, strerror(errno));
-	else if (*grab && ioctl(fd, EVIOCGRAB, (void*)1) == -1)
+	else if (grab && *grab && ioctl(fd, EVIOCGRAB, (void*)1) == -1)
 		fprintf(stderr, "Grab requested, but failed for %s (%s)\n",
 			path, strerror(errno));