diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index 9030f1c42e..3c9424eb42 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ static void sdl_update_caption(struct sdl2_console *scon)
     }
 }
 
-static void sdl_hide_cursor(void)
+static void sdl_hide_cursor(struct sdl2_console *scon)
 {
-    if (!cursor_hide) {
+    if (scon->opts->has_show_cursor && scon->opts->show_cursor) {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -175,9 +175,9 @@ static void sdl_hide_cursor(void)
     }
 }
 
-static void sdl_show_cursor(void)
+static void sdl_show_cursor(struct sdl2_console *scon)
 {
-    if (!cursor_hide) {
+    if (scon->opts->has_show_cursor && scon->opts->show_cursor) {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static void sdl_grab_start(struct sdl2_console *scon)
             SDL_WarpMouseInWindow(scon->real_window, guest_x, guest_y);
         }
     } else {
-        sdl_hide_cursor();
+        sdl_hide_cursor(scon);
     }
     SDL_SetWindowGrab(scon->real_window, SDL_TRUE);
     gui_grab = 1;
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static void sdl_grab_end(struct sdl2_console *scon)
 {
     SDL_SetWindowGrab(scon->real_window, SDL_FALSE);
     gui_grab = 0;
-    sdl_show_cursor();
+    sdl_show_cursor(scon);
     sdl_update_caption(scon);
 }
 
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ static void sdl_mouse_warp(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 
     if (on) {
         if (!guest_cursor) {
-            sdl_show_cursor();
+            sdl_show_cursor(scon);
         }
         if (gui_grab || qemu_input_is_absolute() || absolute_enabled) {
             SDL_SetCursor(guest_sprite);
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ static void sdl_mouse_warp(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
             }
         }
     } else if (gui_grab) {
-        sdl_hide_cursor();
+        sdl_hide_cursor(scon);
     }
     guest_cursor = on;
     guest_x = x, guest_y = y;
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 5419b3d682..0a13cf2b17 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1931,6 +1931,16 @@ static void parse_display(const char *p)
                 } else {
                     goto invalid_sdl_args;
                 }
+            } else if (strstart(opts, ",show-cursor=", &nextopt)) {
+                opts = nextopt;
+                dpy.has_show_cursor = true;
+                if (strstart(opts, "on", &nextopt)) {
+                    dpy.show_cursor = true;
+                } else if (strstart(opts, "off", &nextopt)) {
+                    dpy.show_cursor = false;
+                } else {
+                    goto invalid_sdl_args;
+                }
             } else if (strstart(opts, ",gl=", &nextopt)) {
                 opts = nextopt;
                 dpy.has_gl = true;