diff --git a/dix/dispatch.c b/dix/dispatch.c
index 87bab1791..c619ff8fa 100644
--- a/dix/dispatch.c
+++ b/dix/dispatch.c
@@ -3107,6 +3107,10 @@ ProcFreeCursor(ClientPtr client)
     rc = dixLookupResourceByType((void **) &pCursor, stuff->id, X11_RESTYPE_CURSOR,
                                  client, DixDestroyAccess);
     if (rc == Success) {
+        if (pCursor == rootCursor) {
+            client->errorValue = stuff->id;
+            return BadCursor;
+        }
         FreeResource(stuff->id, X11_RESTYPE_NONE);
         return Success;
     }