diff --git a/src/evdev-touchpad.c b/src/evdev-touchpad.c
index 73c04eba..c25a199c 100644
--- a/src/evdev-touchpad.c
+++ b/src/evdev-touchpad.c
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ touchpad_update_state(struct touchpad_dispatch *touchpad, uint32_t time)
 			touchpad->device->rel.dx = wl_fixed_from_double(dx);
 			touchpad->device->rel.dy = wl_fixed_from_double(dy);
 			touchpad->device->pending_events |=
-				EVDEV_RELATIVE_MOTION;
+				EVDEV_RELATIVE_MOTION | EVDEV_SYN;
 		} else if (touchpad->finger_state == TOUCHPAD_FINGERS_TWO) {
 			if (dx != 0.0)
 				notify_axis(touchpad->device->seat,
diff --git a/src/evdev.c b/src/evdev.c
index 286543a0..a1fa01f0 100644
--- a/src/evdev.c
+++ b/src/evdev.c
@@ -249,9 +249,10 @@ evdev_flush_motion(struct evdev_device *device, uint32_t time)
 {
 	struct weston_seat *master = device->seat;
 
-	if (!device->pending_events)
+	if (!(device->pending_events & EVDEV_SYN))
 		return;
 
+	device->pending_events &= ~EVDEV_SYN;
 	if (device->pending_events & EVDEV_RELATIVE_MOTION) {
 		notify_motion(master, time,
 			      master->seat.pointer->x + device->rel.dx,
@@ -308,6 +309,9 @@ fallback_process(struct evdev_dispatch *dispatch,
 	case EV_KEY:
 		evdev_process_key(device, event, time);
 		break;
+	case EV_SYN:
+		device->pending_events |= EVDEV_SYN;
+		break;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/evdev.h b/src/evdev.h
index ccbb2224..eb5c8682 100644
--- a/src/evdev.h
+++ b/src/evdev.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ enum evdev_event_type {
 	EVDEV_ABSOLUTE_MT_MOTION = (1 << 2),
 	EVDEV_ABSOLUTE_MT_UP = (1 << 3),
 	EVDEV_RELATIVE_MOTION = (1 << 4),
+	EVDEV_SYN = (1 << 5),
 };
 
 enum evdev_device_capability {