diff --git a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
index b61caaa..376292d 100644
--- a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
+++ b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
@@ -6540,6 +6540,18 @@ wl_pointer_change_grab(unsigned int event_mask, int cursor_id,
                        unsigned long timestamp)
 {
     (void)event_mask; (void)timestamp;
+    /* If no grab is active, start a WM policy grab (type 3) so that
+     * wl_update_pointer_focus doesn't reset the cursor on every motion
+     * event when the pointer is over frame decorations.
+     * This handles the opaque-move path where moveres.c calls
+     * pointer_change_grab without first calling pointer_grab. */
+    if (!wl_state.grab_type) {
+        wl_state.grab_type = 3;
+        wl_state.grab_view = NULL;
+        if (wl_state.seat)
+            wlr_seat_pointer_clear_focus(wl_state.seat);
+        wwarning("wl_backend: grab established via pointer_change_grab");
+    }
     /* Map WCUR_* cursor IDs to xcursor names */
     const char *name;
     switch (cursor_id) {