diff --git a/compositor/main.c b/compositor/main.c
index 8028ec32..080aa61c 100644
--- a/compositor/main.c
+++ b/compositor/main.c
@@ -1738,6 +1738,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	struct wl_listener primary_client_destroyed;
 	struct weston_seat *seat;
 	struct wet_compositor user_data;
+	int require_input;
 
 	const struct weston_option core_options[] = {
 		{ WESTON_OPTION_STRING, "backend", 'B', &backend },
@@ -1822,6 +1823,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (weston_compositor_init_config(ec, config) < 0)
 		goto out;
 
+	weston_config_section_get_bool(section, "require-input",
+				       &require_input, true);
+	ec->require_input = require_input;
+
 	if (load_backend(ec, backend, &argc, argv, config) < 0) {
 		weston_log("fatal: failed to create compositor backend\n");
 		goto out;
diff --git a/libweston/compositor.h b/libweston/compositor.h
index 3e486d5e..e00d2853 100644
--- a/libweston/compositor.h
+++ b/libweston/compositor.h
@@ -830,6 +830,10 @@ struct weston_compositor {
 
 	void *user_data;
 	void (*exit)(struct weston_compositor *c);
+
+	/* Whether to let the compositor run without any input device. */
+	bool require_input;
+
 };
 
 struct weston_buffer {
diff --git a/libweston/libinput-seat.c b/libweston/libinput-seat.c
index 78a5fc44..8cf5666b 100644
--- a/libweston/libinput-seat.c
+++ b/libweston/libinput-seat.c
@@ -259,6 +259,12 @@ udev_input_enable(struct udev_input *input)
 			devices_found = 1;
 	}
 
+	if (devices_found == 0 && !c->require_input) {
+		weston_log("warning: no input devices found, but none required "
+			   "as per configuration.\n");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (devices_found == 0) {
 		weston_log(
 			"warning: no input devices on entering Weston. "
diff --git a/man/weston.ini.man b/man/weston.ini.man
index 7aa78105..2eac098f 100644
--- a/man/weston.ini.man
+++ b/man/weston.ini.man
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ time, the one specified in the command-line will be used. On the other
 hand, if none of these sets the value, default idle timeout will be
 set to 300 seconds.
 .RS
+.PP
+.RE
+.TP 7
+.BI "require-input=" true
+require an input device for launch
 
 .SH "LIBINPUT SECTION"
 The
diff --git a/weston.ini.in b/weston.ini.in
index 14a4c0c9..d837fb5d 100644
--- a/weston.ini.in
+++ b/weston.ini.in
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #modules=xwayland.so,cms-colord.so
 #shell=desktop-shell.so
 #gbm-format=xrgb2101010
+#require-input=true
 
 [shell]
 background-image=/usr/share/backgrounds/gnome/Aqua.jpg