diff --git a/src/xpra/server/keyboard_config_base.py b/src/xpra/server/keyboard_config_base.py
index c6624d233f..c44ebe85c3 100644
--- a/src/xpra/server/keyboard_config_base.py
+++ b/src/xpra/server/keyboard_config_base.py
@@ -27,13 +27,15 @@ def get_info(self):
                 }
         return info
 
-
     def parse_options(self, props):
         pass
 
     def get_hash(self):
         return ""
 
+    def set_layout(self, layout, variant):
+        pass
+
     def set_keymap(self):
         pass
 
diff --git a/src/xpra/server/source.py b/src/xpra/server/source.py
index 9cfd132c1c..5d9aabdb08 100644
--- a/src/xpra/server/source.py
+++ b/src/xpra/server/source.py
@@ -1166,12 +1166,7 @@ def _make_metadata(self, wid, window, propname):
 # Keyboard magic
 #
     def set_layout(self, layout, variant):
-        keylog("set_layout(%s, %s)", layout, variant)
-        if layout!=self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_layout or variant!=self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_variant:
-            self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_layout = layout
-            self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_variant = variant
-            return True
-        return False
+        return self.keyboard_config.set_layout(layout, variant)
 
     def keys_changed(self):
         if self.keyboard_config:
diff --git a/src/xpra/x11/server_keyboard_config.py b/src/xpra/x11/server_keyboard_config.py
index a0e0958b44..978a4dc512 100644
--- a/src/xpra/x11/server_keyboard_config.py
+++ b/src/xpra/x11/server_keyboard_config.py
@@ -205,6 +205,15 @@ def is_modifier(self, keycode):
         return False
 
 
+    def set_layout(self, layout, variant):
+        log("set_layout(%s, %s)", layout, variant)
+        if layout!=self.xkbmap_layout or variant!=self.xkbmap_variant:
+            self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_layout = layout
+            self.keyboard_config.xkbmap_variant = variant
+            return True
+        return False
+
+
     def set_keymap(self):
         if not self.enabled:
             return