diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 7b0ff4da66b..4eb74577b4c 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -2204,7 +2204,8 @@ supported on the current platform.
     <tr>
         <td>wlr</td>
         <td>Capture for wlroots based Wayland compositors via wlr-screencopy-unstable-v1. It is possible to capture
-            virtual displays in e.g. Hyprland using this method.
+            virtual displays in e.g. Hyprland using this method. Frames are captured only when the display changes, so
+            an idle display costs the compositor no redraws.
             @note{Applies to Linux only.}</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
diff --git a/src/platform/linux/wayland.cpp b/src/platform/linux/wayland.cpp
index ee3f2c3edd6..30eb773d755 100644
--- a/src/platform/linux/wayland.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/linux/wayland.cpp
@@ -507,9 +507,10 @@ namespace wl {
     // Store for cleanup
     self->current_wl_buffer = buffer;
 
-    // Start the actual copy
+    // Start the actual copy. With damage, the compositor completes it on the next change to the output instead of
+    // redrawing the whole output for it, so an unchanged screen costs nothing to capture.
     zwp_linux_buffer_params_v1_destroy(params);
-    zwlr_screencopy_frame_v1_copy(frame, buffer);
+    zwlr_screencopy_frame_v1_copy_with_damage(frame, buffer);
   }
 
   // Buffer params failed callback
diff --git a/src/platform/linux/wayland.h b/src/platform/linux/wayland.h
index 5cd24bf0bc5..64f99b837a8 100644
--- a/src/platform/linux/wayland.h
+++ b/src/platform/linux/wayland.h
@@ -227,6 +227,17 @@ namespace wl {
     bool y_invert {false};
   };
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Determine whether a capture should request a new screencopy frame.
+   *
+   * Frames are copied with damage, so the compositor holds a request until the output changes. A capture that timed
+   * out still has that request in flight, and requesting another would replace the buffer it is being copied into.
+   *
+   * @param status State of the current screencopy request.
+   * @return `true` unless a requested frame is still pending.
+   */
+  bool should_request_frame(dmabuf_t::status_e status);
+
   /**
    * @brief Wayland output metadata used to match a configured display name.
    */
diff --git a/src/platform/linux/wlgrab.cpp b/src/platform/linux/wlgrab.cpp
index 30be46e5fad..0258492fa63 100644
--- a/src/platform/linux/wlgrab.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/linux/wlgrab.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ namespace wl {
     return false;
   }
 
+  bool should_request_frame(dmabuf_t::status_e status) {
+    return status != dmabuf_t::WAITING;
+  }
+
   /**
    * @brief Captured frame buffer shared between capture and encode stages.
    */
@@ -174,8 +178,17 @@ namespace wl {
     inline platf::capture_e snapshot(const pull_free_image_cb_t &pull_free_image_cb, std::shared_ptr<platf::img_t> &img_out, std::chrono::milliseconds timeout, bool cursor) {
       auto to = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() + timeout;
 
+      if (should_request_frame(dmabuf.status)) {
+        dmabuf.listen(
+          interface.screencopy_manager,
+          interface.dmabuf_interface,
+          &interface.supported_modifiers,
+          output,
+          cursor
+        );
+      }
+
       // Dispatch events until we get a new frame or the timeout expires
-      dmabuf.listen(interface.screencopy_manager, interface.dmabuf_interface, &interface.supported_modifiers, output, cursor);
       do {
         auto remaining_time_ms = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::milliseconds>(to - std::chrono::steady_clock::now());
         if (remaining_time_ms.count() < 0 || !display.dispatch(remaining_time_ms)) {
diff --git a/tests/unit/platform/linux/test_wayland.cpp b/tests/unit/platform/linux/test_wayland.cpp
index 98b221a9dde..e8d50e62b2e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/platform/linux/test_wayland.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/platform/linux/test_wayland.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,21 @@ TEST(WaylandCaptureTest, UsesVramForCudaOnlyWhenCudaSupportIsBuilt) {
   #endif
 }
 
+TEST(WaylandCaptureTest, RequestsTheFirstFrame) {
+  wl::dmabuf_t dmabuf;
+
+  EXPECT_TRUE(wl::should_request_frame(dmabuf.status));
+}
+
+TEST(WaylandCaptureTest, WaitsOnAFramePendingDamage) {
+  EXPECT_FALSE(wl::should_request_frame(wl::dmabuf_t::WAITING));
+}
+
+TEST(WaylandCaptureTest, RequestsAFrameOnceTheLastOneCompleted) {
+  EXPECT_TRUE(wl::should_request_frame(wl::dmabuf_t::READY));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(wl::should_request_frame(wl::dmabuf_t::REINIT));
+}
+
 TEST(WaylandInterfaceTest, RecordsOnlyExplicitDmabufModifiers) {
   constexpr std::uint32_t format = DRM_FORMAT_XRGB8888;
   constexpr std::uint64_t explicit_modifier = 0x100000000000004;