diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index 5cad7038..cfd9f363 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ magic ?= 0
 mkstemps ?= 1
 verscmp ?= 1
 xinerama ?= 1
+x11scrnsaver ?= 1
 
 # Prefix for all installed files
 PREFIX ?= /usr/local
@@ -89,6 +90,12 @@ else
 	MAN_XINERAMA = disabled
 endif
 
+ifeq (${x11scrnsaver},1)
+	CFLAGS += -DHAVE_X11SCRNSAVER
+	LDLIBS += -lXss
+else
+endif
+
 ifeq (${exif},1)
 	CFLAGS += -DHAVE_LIBEXIF
 	LDLIBS += -lexif
diff --git a/src/imlib.c b/src/imlib.c
index eb3f5224..35a762e3 100644
--- a/src/imlib.c
+++ b/src/imlib.c
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 magic_t magic = NULL;
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_X11SCRNSAVER
+#include <X11/extensions/scrnsaver.h>
+#endif
+
 Display *disp = NULL;
 Visual *vis = NULL;
 Screen *scr = NULL;
@@ -134,6 +138,10 @@ void init_x_and_imlib(void)
 	init_xinerama();
 #endif				/* HAVE_LIBXINERAMA */
 
+#ifdef HAVE_X11SCRNSAVER
+	XScreenSaverSuspend(disp, True);
+#endif
+
 	imlib_context_set_display(disp);
 	imlib_context_set_visual(vis);
 	imlib_context_set_colormap(cm);