diff --git a/src/vkbd.h b/src/vkbd.h
index cdecb45..f1d38cc 100644
--- a/src/vkbd.h
+++ b/src/vkbd.h
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 
 struct vkbd;
 
-struct vkbd *vkbd_init(const char *name);
-void vkbd_send(const struct vkbd *vkbd, uint16_t code, int state);
-void vkbd_move_mouse(const struct vkbd *vkbd, int x, int y);
+struct vkbd	*vkbd_init(const char *name);
+void		 vkbd_send(const struct vkbd *vkbd, uint16_t code, int state);
+void		 vkbd_move_mouse(const struct vkbd *vkbd, int x, int y);
 
-void free_vkbd(struct vkbd *vkbd);
+void		 free_vkbd(struct vkbd *vkbd);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/vkbd/uinput.c b/src/vkbd/uinput.c
index b510f49..55fbab2 100644
--- a/src/vkbd/uinput.c
+++ b/src/vkbd/uinput.c
@@ -10,34 +10,72 @@
 
 struct vkbd {
 	int fd;
+	int pfd;
 };
 
-static int create_virtual_keyboard(const char *name)
+static int create_virtual_pointer(const char *name)
 {
-	size_t i;
+	uint16_t code;
 	struct uinput_setup usetup;
 
 	int fd = open("/dev/uinput", O_WRONLY | O_NONBLOCK);
 	if (fd < 0) {
-		perror("open uinput");
+		perror("open");
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_KEY);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_REL);
+	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_KEY);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_SYN);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < KEY_MAX; i++) {
-		if (keycode_table[i].name)
-			ioctl(fd, UI_SET_KEYBIT, i);
-	}
-
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_RELBIT, REL_X);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_RELBIT, REL_WHEEL);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_RELBIT, REL_HWHEEL);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_RELBIT, REL_Y);
 	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_RELBIT, REL_Z);
 
+	for (code = BTN_LEFT; code <= BTN_TASK; code++)
+		ioctl(fd, UI_SET_KEYBIT, code);
+
+	for (code = BTN_0; code <= BTN_9; code++)
+		ioctl(fd, UI_SET_KEYBIT, code);
+
+	memset(&usetup, 0, sizeof(usetup));
+	usetup.id.bustype = BUS_USB;
+	usetup.id.product = 0x1FAC;
+	usetup.id.vendor = 0x0ADE;
+	strcpy(usetup.name, name);
+
+	ioctl(fd, UI_DEV_SETUP, &usetup);
+	ioctl(fd, UI_DEV_CREATE);
+
+	return fd;
+}
+
+static int create_virtual_keyboard(const char *name)
+{
+	size_t code;
+	struct uinput_setup usetup;
+
+	int fd = open("/dev/uinput", O_WRONLY | O_NONBLOCK);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		perror("open uinput");
+		exit(-1);
+	}
+
+	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_KEY);
+	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_REL);
+	ioctl(fd, UI_SET_EVBIT, EV_SYN);
+
+	for (code = 0; code < KEY_MAX; code++) {
+		/* skip mouse buttons to prevent X from identifying the virtual device as a mouse */
+		if (((code) >= BTN_LEFT && (code) <= BTN_TASK) ||
+		    ((code) >= BTN_0 && (code) <= BTN_9))
+			continue;
+
+		if (keycode_table[code].name)
+			ioctl(fd, UI_SET_KEYBIT, code);
+	}
 
 	memset(&usetup, 0, sizeof(usetup));
 	usetup.id.bustype = BUS_USB;
@@ -56,6 +94,15 @@ struct vkbd *vkbd_init(const char *name)
 	struct vkbd *vkbd = calloc(1, sizeof vkbd);
 	vkbd->fd = create_virtual_keyboard(name);
 
+	/* 
+	 * lazily initialize the virtual pointer to avoid presenting an 
+	 * external mouse if it is unnecessary. This can cause issues higher
+	 * up the input stack (e.g libinput touchpad disabling in the presence
+	 * of an external mouse) 
+	 */
+
+	vkbd->pfd = 0;
+
 	return vkbd;
 }
 
@@ -63,6 +110,10 @@ void vkbd_move_mouse(const struct vkbd *vkbd, int x, int y)
 {
 	struct input_event ev;
 
+	if (!vkbd->pfd) {
+		((struct vkbd *)vkbd)->pfd = create_virtual_pointer("keyd virtual pointer");
+	}
+
 	if (x) {
 		ev.type = EV_REL;
 		ev.code = REL_X;
@@ -71,7 +122,7 @@ void vkbd_move_mouse(const struct vkbd *vkbd, int x, int y)
 		ev.time.tv_sec = 0;
 		ev.time.tv_usec = 0;
 
-		write(vkbd->fd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
+		write(vkbd->pfd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
 	}
 
 	if (y) {
@@ -82,14 +133,14 @@ void vkbd_move_mouse(const struct vkbd *vkbd, int x, int y)
 		ev.time.tv_sec = 0;
 		ev.time.tv_usec = 0;
 
-		write(vkbd->fd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
+		write(vkbd->pfd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
 	}
 
 	ev.type = EV_SYN;
 	ev.code = 0;
 	ev.value = 0;
 
-	write(vkbd->fd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
+	write(vkbd->pfd, &ev, sizeof(ev));
 }
 
 void vkbd_send(const struct vkbd *vkbd, uint16_t code, int state)