diff --git a/src/gui_x11.c b/src/gui_x11.c
index 855f4be..a638222 100644
--- a/src/gui_x11.c
+++ b/src/gui_x11.c
@@ -136,20 +136,11 @@
 static XButtonPressedEvent last_mouse_event;
 #endif
 
-static void gui_x11_timer_cb(XtPointer timed_out, XtIntervalId *interval_id);
-static void gui_x11_visibility_cb(Widget w, XtPointer dud, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_expose_cb(Widget w, XtPointer dud, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_resize_window_cb(Widget w, XtPointer dud, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_focus_change_cb(Widget w, XtPointer data, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_enter_cb(Widget w, XtPointer data, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_leave_cb(Widget w, XtPointer data, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
-static void gui_x11_mouse_cb(Widget w, XtPointer data, XEvent *event, Boolean *dum);
 static void gui_x11_check_copy_area(void);
 #ifdef FEAT_CLIENTSERVER
 static void gui_x11_send_event_handler(Widget, XtPointer, XEvent *, Boolean *);
 #endif
 static void gui_x11_wm_protocol_handler(Widget, XtPointer, XEvent *, Boolean *);
-static void gui_x11_blink_cb(XtPointer timed_out, XtIntervalId *interval_id);
 static Cursor gui_x11_create_blank_mouse(void);
 static void draw_curl(int row, int col, int cells);
 
@@ -574,6 +565,25 @@
     *((int *)timed_out) = TRUE;
 }
 
+#ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+    static void
+channel_poll_cb(
+    XtPointer	    client_data,
+    XtIntervalId    *interval_id UNUSED)
+{
+    XtIntervalId    *channel_timer = (XtIntervalId *)client_data;
+
+    /* Using an event handler for a channel that may be disconnected does
+     * not work, it hangs.  Instead poll for messages. */
+    channel_handle_events(TRUE);
+    parse_queued_messages();
+
+    /* repeat */
+    *channel_timer = XtAppAddTimeOut(app_context, (long_u)20,
+						 channel_poll_cb, client_data);
+}
+#endif
+
     static void
 gui_x11_visibility_cb(
     Widget	w UNUSED,
@@ -2698,12 +2708,22 @@
     static int	    timed_out;
     XtIntervalId    timer = (XtIntervalId)0;
     XtInputMask	    desired;
+#ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+    XtIntervalId    channel_timer = (XtIntervalId)0;
+#endif
 
     timed_out = FALSE;
 
     if (wtime > 0)
 	timer = XtAppAddTimeOut(app_context, (long_u)wtime, gui_x11_timer_cb,
 								  &timed_out);
+#ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+    /* If there is a channel with the keep_open flag we need to poll for input
+     * on them. */
+    if (channel_any_keep_open())
+	channel_timer = XtAppAddTimeOut(app_context, (long_u)20,
+				   channel_poll_cb, (XtPointer)&channel_timer);
+#endif
 
     focus = gui.in_focus;
 #ifdef ALT_X_INPUT
@@ -2755,6 +2775,10 @@
 
     if (timer != (XtIntervalId)0 && !timed_out)
 	XtRemoveTimeOut(timer);
+#ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+    if (channel_timer != (XtIntervalId)0)
+	XtRemoveTimeOut(channel_timer);
+#endif
 
     return retval;
 }
@@ -3087,25 +3111,6 @@
     blink_state = BLINK_NONE;
 }
 
-/*
- * Start the cursor blinking.  If it was already blinking, this restarts the
- * waiting time and shows the cursor.
- */
-    void
-gui_mch_start_blink(void)
-{
-    if (blink_timer != (XtIntervalId)0)
-	XtRemoveTimeOut(blink_timer);
-    /* Only switch blinking on if none of the times is zero */
-    if (blink_waittime && blink_ontime && blink_offtime && gui.in_focus)
-    {
-	blink_timer = XtAppAddTimeOut(app_context, blink_waittime,
-						      gui_x11_blink_cb, NULL);
-	blink_state = BLINK_ON;
-	gui_update_cursor(TRUE, FALSE);
-    }
-}
-
     static void
 gui_x11_blink_cb(
     XtPointer	    timed_out UNUSED,
@@ -3128,6 +3133,25 @@
 }
 
 /*
+ * Start the cursor blinking.  If it was already blinking, this restarts the
+ * waiting time and shows the cursor.
+ */
+    void
+gui_mch_start_blink(void)
+{
+    if (blink_timer != (XtIntervalId)0)
+	XtRemoveTimeOut(blink_timer);
+    /* Only switch blinking on if none of the times is zero */
+    if (blink_waittime && blink_ontime && blink_offtime && gui.in_focus)
+    {
+	blink_timer = XtAppAddTimeOut(app_context, blink_waittime,
+						      gui_x11_blink_cb, NULL);
+	blink_state = BLINK_ON;
+	gui_update_cursor(TRUE, FALSE);
+    }
+}
+
+/*
  * Return the RGB value of a pixel as a long.
  */
     guicolor_T
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 7b23a9a..ae7e6ed 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -770,6 +770,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1008,
+/**/
     1007,
 /**/
     1006,