diff --git a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/main.cc b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/main.cc
index ed5ad24439..bae7fe5ce9 100644
--- a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/main.cc
+++ b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/main.cc
@@ -160,9 +160,10 @@ void Vbox_pointer::Main::_show_shape_pointer(Policy *p)
 		throw;
 	}
 
-	Genode::Attached_dataspace ds { _env.rm(), _pointer_ds };
-
-	p->draw_shape(ds.local_addr<Genode::Pixel_rgb565>());
+	if (p->shape_visible()) {
+		Genode::Attached_dataspace ds { _env.rm(), _pointer_ds };
+		p->draw_shape(ds.local_addr<Genode::Pixel_rgb565>());
+	}
 
 	_nitpicker.framebuffer()->refresh(0, 0, p->shape_size().w(), p->shape_size().h());
 
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ void Vbox_pointer::Main::_update_pointer()
 
 	if (_xray
 	 || !(policy = _policy_registry.lookup(_hovered_label, _hovered_domain))
-	 || !policy->shape_valid())
+	 || (policy->shape_visible() && !policy->shape_valid()))
 		_show_default_pointer();
 	else
 		try {
diff --git a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.cc b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.cc
index e2c386b7f8..c3dad33382 100644
--- a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.cc
+++ b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.cc
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class Vbox_pointer::Policy_entry : public Vbox_pointer::Policy,
 		Genode::Signal_handler<Policy_entry> _shape_signal_handler {
 			_env.ep(), *this, &Policy_entry::_import_shape };
 
+		bool             _shape_visible;
 		Nitpicker::Area  _shape_size;
 		Nitpicker::Point _shape_hot;
 
@@ -72,13 +73,16 @@ class Vbox_pointer::Policy_entry : public Vbox_pointer::Policy,
 			Vbox_pointer::Shape_report *shape_report =
 				_shape_ds.local_addr<Vbox_pointer::Shape_report>();
 
-			if (!shape_report->visible
+			_shape_visible = shape_report->visible;
+
+			if (!_shape_visible
 			 || shape_report->width == 0 || shape_report->height == 0
 			 || shape_report->width > Vbox_pointer::MAX_WIDTH
 			 || shape_report->height > Vbox_pointer::MAX_HEIGHT) {
 				_shape_size = Nitpicker::Area();
 				_shape_hot  = Nitpicker::Point();
 				_updater.update_pointer(*this);
+				return;
 			}
 
 			_shape_size = Nitpicker::Area(shape_report->width, shape_report->height);
@@ -154,7 +158,8 @@ class Vbox_pointer::Policy_entry : public Vbox_pointer::Policy,
 		Nitpicker::Area shape_size() const override { return _shape_size; }
 		Nitpicker::Point shape_hot() const override { return _shape_hot; }
 
-		bool shape_valid() const override { return _shape_size.valid(); }
+		bool shape_visible() const override { return _shape_visible; }
+		bool shape_valid()   const override { return _shape_size.valid(); }
 
 		void draw_shape(Genode::Pixel_rgb565 *pixel) override
 		{
diff --git a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.h b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.h
index cf89779c8d..b0d2822fa5 100644
--- a/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.h
+++ b/repos/ports/src/app/vbox_pointer/policy.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ struct Vbox_pointer::Policy
 {
 	virtual Nitpicker::Area shape_size() const = 0;
 	virtual Nitpicker::Point shape_hot() const = 0;
+	virtual bool shape_visible() const         = 0;
 	virtual bool shape_valid() const           = 0;
 
 	virtual void draw_shape(Genode::Pixel_rgb565 *pixel) = 0;