diff --git a/pkg/gtk4-layer-shell/src/main.zig b/pkg/gtk4-layer-shell/src/main.zig
index 88d99772b..d7eafa135 100644
--- a/pkg/gtk4-layer-shell/src/main.zig
+++ b/pkg/gtk4-layer-shell/src/main.zig
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ pub fn isSupported() bool {
     return c.gtk_layer_is_supported() != 0;
 }
 
+pub fn getProtocolVersion() c_uint {
+    return c.gtk_layer_get_protocol_version();
+}
+
 pub fn initForWindow(window: *gtk.Window) void {
     c.gtk_layer_init_for_window(@ptrCast(window));
 }
diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/winproto/wayland.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/winproto/wayland.zig
index 5a4f24ff7..e6861b1ed 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/winproto/wayland.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/winproto/wayland.zig
@@ -369,7 +369,13 @@ pub const Window = struct {
             window,
             switch (config.quick_terminal_keyboard_interactivity) {
                 .none => .none,
-                .@"on-demand" => .on_demand,
+                .@"on-demand" => on_demand: {
+                    if (gtk4_layer_shell.getProtocolVersion() < 4) {
+                        log.warn("your compositor does not support on-demand keyboard access; falling back to exclusive access", .{});
+                        break :on_demand .exclusive;
+                    }
+                    break :on_demand .on_demand;
+                },
                 .exclusive => .exclusive,
             },
         );