diff --git a/extra/x11/xim/xim.factor b/extra/x11/xim/xim.factor
index 6fb6ada3ae..35e1906b2b 100755
--- a/extra/x11/xim/xim.factor
+++ b/extra/x11/xim/xim.factor
@@ -7,9 +7,15 @@ IN: x11.xim
 
 SYMBOL: xim
 
+: (init-xim) ( classname medifier -- im )
+   XSetLocaleModifiers [ "XSetLocaleModifiers() failed" throw ] unless
+   dpy get f rot dup XOpenIM ;
+
 : init-xim ( classname -- )
-    dpy get f rot dup XOpenIM
-    [ "XOpenIM() failed" throw ] unless* xim set-global ;
+   dup "" (init-xim)
+   [ nip ]
+   [ "@im=none" (init-xim) [ "XOpenIM() failed" throw ] unless* ] if*
+   xim set-global ;
 
 : close-xim ( -- )
     xim get-global XCloseIM drop f xim set-global ;
@@ -32,11 +38,11 @@ SYMBOL: keybuf
 SYMBOL: keysym
 
 : prepare-lookup ( -- )
-    buf-size "ulong" <c-array> keybuf set
+    buf-size "uint" <c-array> keybuf set
     0 <KeySym> keysym set ;
 
 : finish-lookup ( len -- string keysym )
-    keybuf get swap c-ulong-array> >string
+    keybuf get swap c-uint-array> >string
     keysym get *KeySym ;
 
 : lookup-string ( event xic -- string keysym )
diff --git a/extra/x11/xlib/xlib.factor b/extra/x11/xlib/xlib.factor
index 70006c9f64..752c6c442e 100755
--- a/extra/x11/xlib/xlib.factor
+++ b/extra/x11/xlib/xlib.factor
@@ -1339,10 +1339,28 @@ FUNCTION: int XwcLookupString ( XIC ic, XKeyPressedEvent* event, ulong* buffer_r
 
 FUNCTION: int Xutf8LookupString ( XIC ic, XKeyPressedEvent* event, char* buffer_return, int bytes_buffer, KeySym* keysym_return, Status* status_return ) ;
 
+! !!! category of setlocale
+: LC_ALL      0 ; inline
+: LC_COLLATE  1 ; inline
+: LC_CTYPE    2 ; inline
+: LC_MONETARY 3 ; inline
+: LC_NUMERIC  4 ; inline
+: LC_TIME     5 ; inline
+
+FUNCTION: char* setlocale ( int category, char* name ) ;
+
+FUNCTION: Bool XSupportsLocale ( ) ;
+
+FUNCTION: char* XSetLocaleModifiers ( char* modifier_list ) ;
+
 SYMBOL: dpy
 SYMBOL: scr
 SYMBOL: root
 
+: init-locale ( -- )
+   LC_ALL "" setlocale [ "setlocale() failed" throw ] unless
+   XSupportsLocale [ "XSupportsLocale() failed" throw ] unless ;
+
 : flush-dpy ( -- ) dpy get XFlush drop ;
 
 : x-atom ( string -- atom ) dpy get swap 0 XInternAtom ;
@@ -1353,6 +1371,7 @@ SYMBOL: root
     ] unless* ;
 
 : initialize-x ( display-string -- )
+    init-locale
     dup [ string>char-alien ] when
     XOpenDisplay check-display dpy set-global
     dpy get XDefaultScreen scr set-global