diff --git a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
index b4030acd74..812f66a31a 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ extern int graphic_depth;
 extern int display_opengl;
 extern const char *keyboard_layout;
 extern int win2k_install_hack;
-extern int alt_grab;
-extern int ctrl_grab;
 extern int graphic_rotate;
 extern int old_param;
 extern uint8_t *boot_splash_filedata;
diff --git a/qapi/ui.json b/qapi/ui.json
index 11a827d10f..413371d5e8 100644
--- a/qapi/ui.json
+++ b/qapi/ui.json
@@ -1295,6 +1295,29 @@
       '*swap-opt-cmd': 'bool'
   } }
 
+##
+# @HotKeyMod:
+#
+# Set of modifier keys that need to be held for shortcut key actions.
+#
+# Since: 7.1
+##
+{ 'enum'  : 'HotKeyMod',
+  'data'  : [ 'lctrl-lalt', 'lshift-lctrl-lalt', 'rctrl' ] }
+
+##
+# @DisplaySDL:
+#
+# SDL2 display options.
+#
+# @grab-mod:  Modifier keys that should be pressed together with the
+#             "G" key to release the mouse grab.
+#
+# Since: 7.1
+##
+{ 'struct'  : 'DisplaySDL',
+  'data'    : { '*grab-mod'   : 'HotKeyMod' } }
+
 ##
 # @DisplayType:
 #
@@ -1374,7 +1397,8 @@
       'curses': { 'type': 'DisplayCurses', 'if': 'CONFIG_CURSES' },
       'egl-headless': { 'type': 'DisplayEGLHeadless',
                         'if': { 'all': ['CONFIG_OPENGL', 'CONFIG_GBM'] } },
-      'dbus': { 'type': 'DisplayDBus', 'if': 'CONFIG_DBUS_DISPLAY' }
+      'dbus': { 'type': 'DisplayDBus', 'if': 'CONFIG_DBUS_DISPLAY' },
+      'sdl': { 'type': 'DisplaySDL', 'if': 'CONFIG_SDL' }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/softmmu/globals.c b/softmmu/globals.c
index 916bc12e2b..527edbefdd 100644
--- a/softmmu/globals.c
+++ b/softmmu/globals.c
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ QEMUOptionRom option_rom[MAX_OPTION_ROMS];
 int nb_option_roms;
 int old_param;
 const char *qemu_name;
-int alt_grab;
-int ctrl_grab;
 unsigned int nb_prom_envs;
 const char *prom_envs[MAX_PROM_ENVS];
 uint8_t *boot_splash_filedata;
diff --git a/softmmu/vl.c b/softmmu/vl.c
index 57ab9d5322..484e9d9921 100644
--- a/softmmu/vl.c
+++ b/softmmu/vl.c
@@ -1056,75 +1056,7 @@ static void parse_display(const char *p)
         exit(0);
     }
 
-    if (strstart(p, "sdl", &opts)) {
-        /*
-         * sdl DisplayType needs hand-crafted parser instead of
-         * parse_display_qapi() due to some options not in
-         * DisplayOptions, specifically:
-         *   - ctrl_grab + alt_grab
-         *     They can't be moved into the QAPI since they use underscores,
-         *     thus they will get replaced by "grab-mod" in the long term
-         */
-#if defined(CONFIG_SDL)
-        dpy.type = DISPLAY_TYPE_SDL;
-        while (*opts) {
-            const char *nextopt;
-
-            if (strstart(opts, ",grab-mod=", &nextopt)) {
-                opts = nextopt;
-                if (strstart(opts, "lshift-lctrl-lalt", &nextopt)) {
-                    alt_grab = 1;
-                } else if (strstart(opts, "rctrl", &nextopt)) {
-                    ctrl_grab = 1;
-                } else {
-                    goto invalid_sdl_args;
-                }
-            } else if (strstart(opts, ",window-close=", &nextopt)) {
-                opts = nextopt;
-                dpy.has_window_close = true;
-                if (strstart(opts, "on", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.window_close = true;
-                } else if (strstart(opts, "off", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.window_close = false;
-                } 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;
-                if (strstart(opts, "on", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.gl = DISPLAYGL_MODE_ON;
-                } else if (strstart(opts, "core", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.gl = DISPLAYGL_MODE_CORE;
-                } else if (strstart(opts, "es", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.gl = DISPLAYGL_MODE_ES;
-                } else if (strstart(opts, "off", &nextopt)) {
-                    dpy.gl = DISPLAYGL_MODE_OFF;
-                } else {
-                    goto invalid_sdl_args;
-                }
-            } else {
-            invalid_sdl_args:
-                error_report("invalid SDL option string");
-                exit(1);
-            }
-            opts = nextopt;
-        }
-#else
-        error_report("SDL display supported is not available in this binary");
-        exit(1);
-#endif
-    } else if (strstart(p, "vnc", &opts)) {
+    if (strstart(p, "vnc", &opts)) {
         /*
          * vnc isn't a (local) DisplayType but a protocol for remote
          * display access.
diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index d3741f9b75..8cb77416af 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ static struct sdl2_console *sdl2_console;
 
 static SDL_Surface *guest_sprite_surface;
 static int gui_grab; /* if true, all keyboard/mouse events are grabbed */
+static bool alt_grab;
+static bool ctrl_grab;
 
 static int gui_saved_grab;
 static int gui_fullscreen;
@@ -853,6 +855,14 @@ static void sdl2_display_init(DisplayState *ds, DisplayOptions *o)
 
     gui_fullscreen = o->has_full_screen && o->full_screen;
 
+    if (o->u.sdl.has_grab_mod) {
+        if (o->u.sdl.grab_mod == HOT_KEY_MOD_LSHIFT_LCTRL_LALT) {
+            alt_grab = true;
+        } else if (o->u.sdl.grab_mod == HOT_KEY_MOD_RCTRL) {
+            ctrl_grab = true;
+        }
+    }
+
     for (i = 0;; i++) {
         QemuConsole *con = qemu_console_lookup_by_index(i);
         if (!con) {