diff --git a/src/compositor-drm.c b/src/compositor-drm.c
index 77caddf33..3c15ec30e 100644
--- a/src/compositor-drm.c
+++ b/src/compositor-drm.c
@@ -2788,6 +2788,11 @@ drm_compositor_create(struct wl_display *display,
 		goto err_sprite;
 	}
 
+	/* A this point we have some idea of whether or not we have a working
+	 * cursor plane. */
+	if (!ec->cursors_are_broken)
+		ec->base.capabilities |= WESTON_CAP_CURSOR_PLANE;
+
 	path = NULL;
 
 	if (udev_input_init(&ec->input,
diff --git a/src/compositor-rdp.c b/src/compositor-rdp.c
index 909e2257d..f4c80a015 100644
--- a/src/compositor-rdp.c
+++ b/src/compositor-rdp.c
@@ -1005,7 +1005,9 @@ rdp_compositor_create(struct wl_display *display,
 	if (rdp_compositor_create_output(c, config->width, config->height) < 0)
 		goto err_compositor;
 
-	if (!config->env_socket) {
+	c->base.capabilities |= WESTON_CAP_ARBITRARY_MODES;
+
+	if(!config->env_socket) {
 		c->listener = freerdp_listener_new();
 		c->listener->PeerAccepted = rdp_incoming_peer;
 		c->listener->param4 = c;
diff --git a/src/compositor.h b/src/compositor.h
index 37ad17fbb..15d6e03cf 100644
--- a/src/compositor.h
+++ b/src/compositor.h
@@ -558,6 +558,12 @@ enum weston_capability {
 
 	/* screencaptures need to be y-flipped */
 	WESTON_CAP_CAPTURE_YFLIP		= 0x0002,
+
+	/* backend/renderer has a seperate cursor plane */
+	WESTON_CAP_CURSOR_PLANE			= 0x0004,
+
+	/* backend supports setting arbitrary resolutions */
+	WESTON_CAP_ARBITRARY_MODES		= 0x0008,
 };
 
 struct weston_compositor {