diff --git a/sowm.c b/sowm.c
index d1b4c2a..205ae88 100644
--- a/sowm.c
+++ b/sowm.c
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ int main(void) {
 
     XSelectInput(d,  root, SubstructureRedirectMask);
     XDefineCursor(d, root, XCreateFontCursor(d, 68));
+    XUngrabKey(d, AnyKey, AnyModifier, root);
 
     for (unsigned int i=0; i < sizeof(keys)/sizeof(*keys); ++i)
         XGrabKey(d, XKeysymToKeycode(d, keys[i].keysym), keys[i].mod,