diff --git a/include/xcb.h b/include/xcb.h
index 5bc40d2a..65e4e6c3 100644
--- a/include/xcb.h
+++ b/include/xcb.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #define XCB_CURSOR_LEFT_PTR     68
 #define XCB_CURSOR_SB_H_DOUBLE_ARROW 108
 #define XCB_CURSOR_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW 116
+#define XCB_CURSOR_WATCH 150
 
 /* from X11/keysymdef.h */
 #define XCB_NUM_LOCK                    0xff7f
@@ -150,4 +151,12 @@ bool xcb_reply_contains_atom(xcb_get_property_reply_t *prop, xcb_atom_t atom);
  */
 void xcb_warp_pointer_rect(xcb_connection_t *conn, Rect *rect);
 
+/**
+ * Set the cursor of the root window to the given cursor id.
+ * This function should only be used if xcursor_supported == false.
+ * Otherwise, use xcursor_set_root_cursor().
+ *
+ */
+void xcb_set_root_cursor(int cursor);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/include/xcursor.h b/include/xcursor.h
index e129a36f..f3ff4f25 100644
--- a/include/xcursor.h
+++ b/include/xcursor.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ enum xcursor_cursor_t {
     XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER = 0,
     XCURSOR_CURSOR_RESIZE_HORIZONTAL,
     XCURSOR_CURSOR_RESIZE_VERTICAL,
+    XCURSOR_CURSOR_WATCH,
     XCURSOR_CURSOR_MAX
 };
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f985810e..610a2c19 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -442,17 +442,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
     /* Set a cursor for the root window (otherwise the root window will show no
        cursor until the first client is launched). */
-    if (xcursor_supported) {
-        xcursor_set_root_cursor();
-    } else {
-        xcb_cursor_t cursor_id = xcb_generate_id(conn);
-        i3Font cursor_font = load_font("cursor", false);
-        int xcb_cursor = xcursor_get_xcb_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
-        xcb_create_glyph_cursor(conn, cursor_id, cursor_font.id, cursor_font.id,
-                xcb_cursor, xcb_cursor + 1, 0, 0, 0, 65535, 65535, 65535);
-        xcb_change_window_attributes(conn, root, XCB_CW_CURSOR, &cursor_id);
-        xcb_free_cursor(conn, cursor_id);
-    }
+    if (xcursor_supported)
+        xcursor_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
+    else xcb_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
 
     if (xkb_supported) {
         int errBase,
diff --git a/src/startup.c b/src/startup.c
index 4b6c937d..66cb5285 100644
--- a/src/startup.c
+++ b/src/startup.c
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
  *
  * See file LICENSE for license information.
  *
- * startup.c: Startup notification code
+ * startup.c: Startup notification code. Ensures a startup notification context
+ * is setup when launching applications. We store the current workspace to open
+ * windows in that startup notification context on the appropriate workspace.
  *
  */
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -124,6 +126,11 @@ void start_application(const char *command) {
         exit(0);
     }
     wait(0);
+
+    /* Change the pointer of the root window to indicate progress */
+    if (xcursor_supported)
+        xcursor_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_WATCH);
+    else xcb_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_WATCH);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -160,6 +167,14 @@ void startup_monitor_event(SnMonitorEvent *event, void *userdata) {
 
             /* Delete our internal sequence */
             TAILQ_REMOVE(&startup_sequences, sequence, sequences);
+
+            if (TAILQ_EMPTY(&startup_sequences)) {
+                DLOG("No more startup sequences running, changing root window cursor to default pointer.\n");
+                /* Change the pointer of the root window to indicate progress */
+                if (xcursor_supported)
+                    xcursor_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
+                else xcb_set_root_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
+            }
             break;
         default:
             /* ignore */
diff --git a/src/xcb.c b/src/xcb.c
index 31d78703..32537388 100644
--- a/src/xcb.c
+++ b/src/xcb.c
@@ -341,3 +341,20 @@ void xcb_warp_pointer_rect(xcb_connection_t *conn, Rect *rect) {
     LOG("warp pointer to: %d %d\n", mid_x, mid_y);
     xcb_warp_pointer(conn, XCB_NONE, root, 0, 0, 0, 0, mid_x, mid_y);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Set the cursor of the root window to the given cursor id.
+ * This function should only be used if xcursor_supported == false.
+ * Otherwise, use xcursor_set_root_cursor().
+ *
+ */
+void xcb_set_root_cursor(int cursor) {
+    xcb_cursor_t cursor_id = xcb_generate_id(conn);
+    i3Font cursor_font = load_font("cursor", false);
+    int xcb_cursor = xcursor_get_xcb_cursor(cursor);
+    xcb_create_glyph_cursor(conn, cursor_id, cursor_font.id, cursor_font.id,
+            xcb_cursor, xcb_cursor + 1, 0, 0, 0, 65535, 65535, 65535);
+    xcb_change_window_attributes(conn, root, XCB_CW_CURSOR, &cursor_id);
+    xcb_free_cursor(conn, cursor_id);
+    xcb_flush(conn);
+}
diff --git a/src/xcursor.c b/src/xcursor.c
index 69518c30..5d209b56 100644
--- a/src/xcursor.c
+++ b/src/xcursor.c
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ static Cursor cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_MAX];
 static const int xcb_cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_MAX] = {
     XCB_CURSOR_LEFT_PTR,
     XCB_CURSOR_SB_H_DOUBLE_ARROW,
-    XCB_CURSOR_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW
+    XCB_CURSOR_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW,
+    XCB_CURSOR_WATCH
 };
 
 static Cursor load_cursor(const char *name) {
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ void xcursor_load_cursors() {
     cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER] = load_cursor("left_ptr");
     cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_RESIZE_HORIZONTAL] = load_cursor("sb_h_double_arrow");
     cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_RESIZE_VERTICAL] = load_cursor("sb_v_double_arrow");
+    cursors[XCURSOR_CURSOR_WATCH] = load_cursor("watch");
 }
 
 /*
@@ -41,9 +43,9 @@ void xcursor_load_cursors() {
  * races might occur (even though we flush the Xlib connection).
  *
  */
-void xcursor_set_root_cursor() {
+void xcursor_set_root_cursor(int cursor_id) {
     XSetWindowAttributes attributes;
-    attributes.cursor = xcursor_get_cursor(XCURSOR_CURSOR_POINTER);
+    attributes.cursor = xcursor_get_cursor(cursor_id);
     XChangeWindowAttributes(xlibdpy, DefaultRootWindow(xlibdpy), CWCursor, &attributes);
     XFlush(xlibdpy);
 }