diff --git a/dix/devices.c b/dix/devices.c
index a415a8e26..bd145a085 100644
--- a/dix/devices.c
+++ b/dix/devices.c
@@ -202,10 +202,11 @@ EnableDevice(DeviceIntPtr dev)
 	 prev = &(*prev)->next)
 	;
 
-    /* Sprites will be initialized with their 'windows' just when inside the
-     * DefineInitialRootWindow function! */
+    /* Sprites pop up on the first root window, so we can supply it directly
+     * here. 
+     */
     if (IsPointerDevice(dev) && dev->spriteInfo->spriteOwner)
-        InitializeSprite(dev, NullWindow);
+        InitializeSprite(dev, WindowTable[0]);
     else
         PairDevices(NULL, inputInfo.pointer, dev);
 
@@ -301,11 +302,6 @@ ActivateDevice(DeviceIntPtr dev)
     return ret;
 }
 
-int
-DeactivateDevice(DeviceIntPtr dev)
-{
-}
-
 static void
 CoreKeyboardBell(int volume, DeviceIntPtr pDev, pointer arg, int something)
 {
@@ -451,14 +447,7 @@ InitCoreDevices(void)
         dev->devPrivates[CoreDevicePrivatesIndex].ptr = NULL;
         (void)ActivateDevice(dev);
 
-        /* Enable device, and then remove it from the device list. Virtual
-         * devices are kept separate, not in the standard device list. 
-         */
-        if (dev->inited && dev->startup)
-            EnableDevice(dev);
-        inputInfo.off_devices = inputInfo.devices = NULL;
         inputInfo.keyboard = dev;
-        inputInfo.keyboard->next = NULL;
     }
 
     if (!inputInfo.pointer) {
@@ -478,35 +467,25 @@ InitCoreDevices(void)
         dev->coreGrab.ActivateGrab = ActivatePointerGrab;
         dev->coreGrab.DeactivateGrab = DeactivatePointerGrab;
         dev->coreEvents = FALSE;
+        dev->spriteInfo->spriteOwner = TRUE;
         if (!AllocateDevicePrivate(dev, CoreDevicePrivatesIndex))
             FatalError("Couldn't allocate pointer devPrivates\n");
         dev->devPrivates[CoreDevicePrivatesIndex].ptr = NULL;
         (void)ActivateDevice(dev);
 
-        /* Enable device, and then remove it from the device list. Virtual
-         * devices are kept separate, not in the standard device list. 
-         */
-        if (dev->inited && dev->startup)
-            EnableDevice(dev);
-        inputInfo.off_devices = inputInfo.devices = NULL;
         inputInfo.pointer = dev;
-        inputInfo.pointer->next = NULL;
-
-        /* the core keyboard is initialised by now. set the keyboard's sprite
-         * to the core pointer's sprite. */
-        PairDevices(pairingClient, inputInfo.pointer, inputInfo.keyboard);
     }
 }
 
 /**
  * Activate and enable all devices. 
  *
- * After InitAndStartDevices() all devices are finished with their setup
- * routines and start emitting events.
- * Each physical keyboard is paired with the first available unpaired pointer.
+ * InitAndStartDevices needs to be called AFTER the windows are initialized.
+ * Devices will start sending events after InitAndStartDevices() has
+ * completed.
  */
 int
-InitAndStartDevices(void)
+InitAndStartDevices(WindowPtr root)
 {
     DeviceIntPtr dev, next;
 
@@ -514,13 +493,6 @@ InitAndStartDevices(void)
         DebugF("(dix) initialising device %d\n", dev->id);
 	ActivateDevice(dev);
     }
-    for (dev = inputInfo.off_devices; dev; dev = next)
-    {
-        DebugF("(dix) enabling device %d\n", dev->id);
-	next = dev->next;
-	if (dev->inited && dev->startup)
-	    (void)EnableDevice(dev);
-    }
 
     if (!inputInfo.keyboard) {
 	ErrorF("No core keyboard\n");
@@ -531,12 +503,37 @@ InitAndStartDevices(void)
 	return BadImplementation;
     }
 
-    /* All of the devices are started up now. Try to pair each keyboard with a
-     * real pointer, if possible. */
+    /* Now enable all devices */
+    if (inputInfo.keyboard->inited && inputInfo.keyboard->startup)
+        EnableDevice(inputInfo.keyboard);
+    if (inputInfo.pointer->inited && inputInfo.pointer->startup)
+        EnableDevice(inputInfo.pointer);
+
+    /* Remove VCP and VCK from device list */
+    inputInfo.devices = NULL;
+    inputInfo.keyboard->next = inputInfo.pointer->next = NULL;
+
+    /* enable real devices */
+    for (dev = inputInfo.off_devices; dev; dev = next)
+    {
+        DebugF("(dix) enabling device %d\n", dev->id);
+	next = dev->next;
+	if (dev->inited && dev->startup)
+	    (void)EnableDevice(dev);
+    }
+
+    /* All of the devices are started up now. Pair VCK with VCP, then
+     * pair each real keyboard with a real pointer. 
+     */ 
+    PairDevices(NULL, inputInfo.pointer, inputInfo.keyboard);
+
     for (dev = inputInfo.devices; dev; dev = dev->next)
     {
         if (!DevHasCursor(dev))
             PairDevices(NULL, GuessFreePointerDevice(), dev);
+        else
+            /* enter/leave counter on root window */
+            ((FocusSemaphoresPtr)root->devPrivates[FocusPrivatesIndex].ptr)->enterleave++;
     }
 
     return Success;
diff --git a/dix/events.c b/dix/events.c
index 7d11d14a7..dc7bbfba7 100644
--- a/dix/events.c
+++ b/dix/events.c
@@ -2501,23 +2501,10 @@ void ReinitializeRootWindow(WindowPtr win, int xoff, int yoff)
 void
 DefineInitialRootWindow(WindowPtr win)
 {
-    DeviceIntPtr pDev = inputInfo.devices;
-
 #ifdef XEVIE
     xeviewin = win;
 #endif
 
-    InitializeSprite(inputInfo.pointer, win);
-
-    while (pDev)
-    {
-        if (DevHasCursor(pDev))
-        {
-            InitializeSprite(pDev, win);
-            ((FocusSemaphoresPtr)win->devPrivates[FocusPrivatesIndex].ptr)->enterleave++;
-        }
-        pDev = pDev->next;
-    }
 }
 
 void 
diff --git a/dix/main.c b/dix/main.c
index 2f064a9a7..e7c700063 100644
--- a/dix/main.c
+++ b/dix/main.c
@@ -396,10 +396,6 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 	    if (!CreateRootWindow(pScreen))
 		FatalError("failed to create root window");
 	}
-        InitCoreDevices();
-	InitInput(argc, argv);
-	if (InitAndStartDevices() != Success)
-	    FatalError("failed to initialize core devices");
 
 	InitFonts();
 #ifdef BUILTIN_FONTS
@@ -451,6 +447,12 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[], char *envp[])
 	for (i = 0; i < screenInfo.numScreens; i++)
 	    InitRootWindow(WindowTable[i]);
 	DefineInitialRootWindow(WindowTable[0]);
+
+        InitCoreDevices();
+	InitInput(argc, argv);
+	if (InitAndStartDevices(WindowTable[0]) != Success)
+	    FatalError("failed to initialize core devices");
+
 	SaveScreens(SCREEN_SAVER_FORCER, ScreenSaverReset);
 
 #ifdef PANORAMIX
diff --git a/include/input.h b/include/input.h
index 4ba0cad86..401fcece8 100644
--- a/include/input.h
+++ b/include/input.h
@@ -186,7 +186,9 @@ extern Bool ActivateDevice(
 extern Bool DisableDevice(
     DeviceIntPtr /*device*/);
 
-extern int InitAndStartDevices(void);
+extern int InitAndStartDevices(
+    WindowPtr /*root*/);
+
 
 extern void CloseDownDevices(void);