diff --git a/src/openbox.cc b/src/openbox.cc
index ff42f58b..ad317183 100644
--- a/src/openbox.cc
+++ b/src/openbox.cc
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ void Openbox::eventLoop()
 {
   while (!_doshutdown) {
     dispatchEvents(); // from OtkEventDispatcher
+    XFlush(otk::OBDisplay::display); // flush here before we go wait for timers
     _timermanager.fire();
   }
 }