diff --git a/XMonad/Doc/Extending.hs b/XMonad/Doc/Extending.hs
index 88c2c805..0c12c680 100644
--- a/XMonad/Doc/Extending.hs
+++ b/XMonad/Doc/Extending.hs
@@ -811,6 +811,8 @@ external utilities.
 
 A non complete list with a brief description:
 
+* "XMonad.Util.Cursor": configure the default cursor/pointer glyph.
+
 * "XMonad.Util.CustomKeys": configure key bindings (see
   "XMonad.Doc.Extending#Editing_key_bindings").
 
diff --git a/XMonad/Util/Cursor.hs b/XMonad/Util/Cursor.hs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..45a30876
--- /dev/null
+++ b/XMonad/Util/Cursor.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- |
+-- Module      :  XMonad.Util.Cursor
+-- Copyright   :  (c) 2009 Collabora Ltd
+-- License     :  BSD-style (see xmonad/LICENSE)
+--
+-- Maintainer  :  Andres Salomon <dilinger@collabora.co.uk>
+-- Stability   :  unstable
+-- Portability :  unportable
+--
+-- A module for setting the default mouse cursor.
+--
+-- Some ideas shamelessly stolen from Nils Schweinsberg; thanks!
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+module XMonad.Util.Cursor
+    ( -- * Usage:
+      -- $usage
+      module Graphics.X11.Xlib.Cursor,
+      setDefaultCursor
+    ) where
+
+import Graphics.X11.Xlib.Cursor
+import XMonad
+
+-- $usage
+--     setDefaultCursor xC_left_ptr
+--   For example, to override the default gnome cursor:
+--     import XMonad.Util.Cursor
+--     main = xmonad gnomeConfig { startupHook = setDefaultCursor xC_pirate }
+--   Arrr!
+
+-- | Set the default (root) cursor
+setDefaultCursor :: Glyph -> X ()
+setDefaultCursor glyph = do
+    dpy <- asks display
+    rootw <- asks theRoot
+    liftIO $ do
+        curs <- createFontCursor dpy glyph
+        defineCursor dpy rootw curs
+        flush dpy
+        freeCursor dpy curs
diff --git a/xmonad-contrib.cabal b/xmonad-contrib.cabal
index e589eeb3..aac6145d 100644
--- a/xmonad-contrib.cabal
+++ b/xmonad-contrib.cabal
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ library
                         XMonad.Prompt.Window
                         XMonad.Prompt.Workspace
                         XMonad.Prompt.XMonad
+                        XMonad.Util.Cursor
                         XMonad.Util.CustomKeys
                         XMonad.Util.Dmenu
                         XMonad.Util.Dzen