diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index deb2264..83e9848 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ edition = "2018"
 members = [ "anvil" ]
 
 [dependencies]
-wayland-server = { version = "0.23.2", optional = true }
-wayland-commons = { version = "0.23.3", optional = true }
-wayland-sys = { version = "0.23", optional = true }
+wayland-server = { version = "0.23.4", optional = true }
+wayland-commons = { version = "0.23.4", optional = true }
+wayland-sys = { version = "0.23.4", optional = true }
 calloop = "0.4.2"
 bitflags = "1"
 nix = "0.13"
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ tempfile = "3.0"
 slog = "2.1.1"
 slog-stdlog = "3.0.2"
 libloading = "0.5.0"
-wayland-client = { version = "0.23", features = ["egl"], optional = true }
+wayland-client = { version = "0.23.4", features = ["egl"], optional = true }
 winit = { version = "0.18.0", optional = true }
 drm = { version = "^0.3.4", optional = true }
 gbm = { version = "^0.5.0", optional = true, default-features = false, features = ["drm-support"] }
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ input = { version = "0.4.1", optional = true }
 udev = { version = "0.2.0", optional = true }
 dbus = { version = "0.6.1", optional = true }
 systemd = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true }
-wayland-protocols = { version = "0.23", features = ["unstable_protocols", "server"], optional = true }
+wayland-protocols = { version = "0.23.4", features = ["unstable_protocols", "server"], optional = true }
 image = { version = "0.21.0", optional = true }
 error-chain = "0.12.0"
 lazy_static = "1.0.0"
diff --git a/src/wayland/explicit_synchronization/mod.rs b/src/wayland/explicit_synchronization/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1dea7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wayland/explicit_synchronization/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+//! Explicit buffer synchronization per wayland surface
+//!
+//! This interface allow clients to switch from a per-buffer signaling of buffer release (via the
+//! `wl_buffer.release` event) to a per-surface signaling using `dma_fence`s. This is notably used for
+//! efficient synchronization of OpenGL/Vulkan clients.
+//!
+//! At surface commit time, in addition to a buffer the client can have attached two more properties:
+//!
+//! - an acquire `dma_fence` file descriptor, that the compositor is required to wait on before it will
+//!   try to access the contents of the associated buffer
+//! - an `ExplicitBufferRelease` object, that the compositor is expect to use to signal the client when it has
+//!   finished using the buffer for this surface (if the same buffer is attached to multiple surfaces, the
+//!   release only applies for the surface associated with this release object, not the whole buffer).
+//!
+//! The use of these `dma_fence`s in conjunction with the graphics stack allows for efficient synchronization
+//! between the clients and the compositor.
+//!
+//! ## Usage
+//!
+//! First, you need to initialize the global:
+//!
+//! ```
+//! # extern crate wayland_server;
+//! # #[macro_use] extern crate smithay;
+//! #
+//! # use smithay::wayland::compositor::roles::*;
+//! # use smithay::wayland::compositor::CompositorToken;
+//! use smithay::wayland::explicit_synchronization::*;
+//! # define_roles!(MyRoles);
+//! #
+//! # fn main() {
+//! # let mut event_loop = wayland_server::calloop::EventLoop::<()>::new().unwrap();
+//! # let mut display = wayland_server::Display::new(event_loop.handle());
+//! # let (compositor_token, _, _) = smithay::wayland::compositor::compositor_init::<MyRoles, _, _>(
+//! #     &mut display,
+//! #     |_, _, _| {},
+//! #     None
+//! # );
+//! init_explicit_synchronization_global(
+//!     &mut display,
+//!     compositor_token,
+//!     None /* You can insert a logger here */
+//! );
+//! # }
+//! ```
+//!
+//! Then when handling a surface commit, you can retrieve the synchronization information for the surface
+//! data:
+//! ```no_run
+//! # extern crate wayland_server;
+//! # #[macro_use] extern crate smithay;
+//! #
+//! # use wayland_server::protocol::wl_surface::WlSurface;
+//! # use smithay::wayland::compositor::CompositorToken;
+//! # use smithay::wayland::explicit_synchronization::*;
+//! #
+//! # fn dummy_function<R: 'static>(surface: &WlSurface, compositor_token: CompositorToken<R>) {
+//! compositor_token.with_surface_data(&surface, |surface_attributes| {
+//!     // While you retrieve the surface data from the commit ...
+//!     // Check the explicit synchronization data:
+//!     match get_explicit_synchronization_state(surface_attributes) {
+//!         Ok(sync_state) => {
+//!             /* This surface is explicitly synchronized, you need to handle
+//!                the contents of sync_state
+//!             */
+//!         },
+//!         Err(()) => {
+//!             /* This surface is not explicitly synchronized, nothing more to do
+//!             */
+//!         }
+//!     }
+//! });
+//! # }
+//! ```
+
+use std::os::unix::io::RawFd;
+
+use wayland_protocols::unstable::linux_explicit_synchronization::v1::server::*;
+use wayland_server::{protocol::wl_surface::WlSurface, Display, Global, NewResource};
+
+use crate::wayland::compositor::{CompositorToken, SurfaceAttributes};
+
+/// An object to signal end of use of a buffer
+pub struct ExplicitBufferRelease {
+    release: zwp_linux_buffer_release_v1::ZwpLinuxBufferReleaseV1,
+}
+
+impl ExplicitBufferRelease {
+    /// Immediately release the buffer
+    ///
+    /// The client can reuse it as soon as this event is sent.
+    pub fn immediate_release(self) {
+        self.release.immediate_release();
+    }
+
+    /// Send a release fence to the client
+    ///
+    /// The client will be allowed to reuse the buffer once you signal this `dma_fence`.
+    pub fn send_release_fence(self, fence: RawFd) {
+        self.release.fenced_release(fence);
+    }
+}
+
+/// An explicit synchronization state
+///
+/// The client is not required to fill both. `acquire` being `None` means that you don't need to wait
+/// before acessing the buffer, `release` being `None` means that the client does not require additionnal
+/// signaling that you are finished (you still need to send `wl_buffer.release`).
+pub struct ExplicitSyncState {
+    /// An acquire `dma_fence` object, that you should wait on before accessing the contents of the
+    /// buffer associated with the surface.
+    pub acquire: Option<RawFd>,
+    /// A buffer release object, that you should use to signal the client when you are done using the
+    /// buffer associated with the surface.
+    pub release: Option<ExplicitBufferRelease>,
+}
+
+struct InternalState {
+    sync_state: ExplicitSyncState,
+    sync_resource: zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::ZwpLinuxSurfaceSynchronizationV1,
+}
+
+struct ESUserData {
+    state: Option<InternalState>,
+}
+
+impl ESUserData {
+    fn take_state(&mut self) -> Option<ExplicitSyncState> {
+        if let Some(ref mut state) = self.state {
+            Some(ExplicitSyncState {
+                acquire: state.sync_state.acquire.take(),
+                release: state.sync_state.release.take(),
+            })
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Possible errors you can send to an ill-behaving clients
+pub enum ExplicitSyncError {
+    /// An invalid file descriptor was sent by the client for an acquire fence
+    InvalidFence,
+    /// The client requested synchronization for a buffer type that does not support it
+    UnsupportedBuffer,
+    /// The client requested synchronization while not having attached any buffer
+    NoBuffer,
+}
+
+/// Retrieve the explicit synchronization state commited by the client
+///
+/// This state can contain an acquire fence and a release object, for synchronization (see module-level docs).
+///
+/// This function will clear the pending state, preparing the surface for the next commit, as a result you
+/// should always call it on surface commit to avoid getting out-of-sync with the client.
+///
+/// This function returns an error if the client has not setup explicit synchronization for this surface.
+pub fn get_explicit_synchronization_state(attrs: &mut SurfaceAttributes) -> Result<ExplicitSyncState, ()> {
+    attrs
+        .user_data
+        .get_mut::<ESUserData>()
+        .and_then(|s| s.take_state())
+        .ok_or(())
+}
+
+/// Send a synchronization error to a client
+///
+/// See the enum definition for possible errors. These errors are protocol errors, meaning that
+/// the client associated with this `SurfaceAttributes` will be killed as a result of calling this
+/// function.
+pub fn send_explicit_synchronization_error(attrs: &SurfaceAttributes, error: ExplicitSyncError) {
+    if let Some(ref data) = attrs.user_data.get::<ESUserData>() {
+        if let Some(ref state) = data.state {
+            match error {
+                ExplicitSyncError::InvalidFence => state.sync_resource.as_ref().post_error(
+                    zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::InvalidFence as u32,
+                    "The fence specified by the client could not be imported.".into(),
+                ),
+                ExplicitSyncError::UnsupportedBuffer => state.sync_resource.as_ref().post_error(
+                    zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::UnsupportedBuffer as u32,
+                    "The buffer does not support explicit synchronization.".into(),
+                ),
+                ExplicitSyncError::NoBuffer => state.sync_resource.as_ref().post_error(
+                    zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::NoBuffer as u32,
+                    "No buffer was attached.".into(),
+                ),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Initialize the explicit synchronization global
+///
+/// See module-level documentation for its use.
+pub fn init_explicit_synchronization_global<R, L>(
+    display: &mut Display,
+    compositor: CompositorToken<R>,
+    logger: L,
+) -> Global<zwp_linux_explicit_synchronization_v1::ZwpLinuxExplicitSynchronizationV1>
+where
+    L: Into<Option<::slog::Logger>>,
+    R: 'static,
+{
+    let log = crate::slog_or_stdlog(logger).new(o!("smithay_module" => "wayland_explicit_synchronization"));
+
+    display.create_global::<zwp_linux_explicit_synchronization_v1::ZwpLinuxExplicitSynchronizationV1, _>(
+        2,
+        move |new_sync, version| {
+            new_sync.implement_closure(
+                move |req, explicit_sync| match req {
+                    zwp_linux_explicit_synchronization_v1::Request::GetSynchronization { id, surface } => {
+                        let exists = compositor.with_surface_data(&surface, |attrs| {
+                            attrs.user_data.insert_if_missing(|| ESUserData { state: None });
+                            attrs
+                                .user_data
+                                .get::<ESUserData>()
+                                .map(|ud| ud.state.is_some())
+                                .unwrap()
+                        });
+                        if exists {
+                            explicit_sync.as_ref().post_error(
+                                zwp_linux_explicit_synchronization_v1::Error::SynchronizationExists as u32,
+                                "The surface already has a synchronization object associated.".into(),
+                            );
+                            return;
+                        }
+                        let surface_sync = implement_surface_sync(id, surface.clone(), compositor);
+                        compositor.with_surface_data(&surface, |attrs| {
+                            let data = attrs.user_data.get_mut::<ESUserData>().unwrap();
+                            data.state = Some(InternalState {
+                                sync_state: ExplicitSyncState {
+                                    acquire: None,
+                                    release: None,
+                                },
+                                sync_resource: surface_sync,
+                            });
+                        });
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                },
+                None::<fn(_)>,
+                (),
+            );
+        },
+    )
+}
+
+fn implement_surface_sync<R>(
+    id: NewResource<zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::ZwpLinuxSurfaceSynchronizationV1>,
+    surface: WlSurface,
+    compositor: CompositorToken<R>,
+) -> zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::ZwpLinuxSurfaceSynchronizationV1
+where
+    R: 'static,
+{
+    id.implement_closure(
+        move |req, surface_sync| match req {
+            zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Request::SetAcquireFence { fd } => {
+                if !surface.as_ref().is_alive() {
+                    surface_sync.as_ref().post_error(
+                        zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::NoSurface as u32,
+                        "The associated wl_surface was destroyed.".into(),
+                    )
+                }
+                compositor.with_surface_data(&surface, |attrs| {
+                    let data = attrs.user_data.get_mut::<ESUserData>().unwrap();
+                    if let Some(ref mut state) = data.state {
+                        if state.sync_state.acquire.is_some() {
+                            surface_sync.as_ref().post_error(
+                                zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::DuplicateFence as u32,
+                                "Multiple fences added for a single surface commit.".into(),
+                            )
+                        } else {
+                            state.sync_state.acquire = Some(fd);
+                        }
+                    }
+                });
+            }
+            zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Request::GetRelease { release } => {
+                if !surface.as_ref().is_alive() {
+                    surface_sync.as_ref().post_error(
+                        zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::NoSurface as u32,
+                        "The associated wl_surface was destroyed.".into(),
+                    )
+                }
+                compositor.with_surface_data(&surface, |attrs| {
+                    let data = attrs.user_data.get_mut::<ESUserData>().unwrap();
+                    if let Some(ref mut state) = data.state {
+                        if state.sync_state.acquire.is_some() {
+                            surface_sync.as_ref().post_error(
+                                zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Error::DuplicateRelease as u32,
+                                "Multiple releases added for a single surface commit.".into(),
+                            )
+                        } else {
+                            state.sync_state.release = Some(ExplicitBufferRelease {
+                                release: release.implement_dummy(),
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
+                });
+            }
+            zwp_linux_surface_synchronization_v1::Request::Destroy => {
+                // disable the ESUserData
+                compositor.with_surface_data(&surface, |attrs| {
+                    if let Some(ref mut data) = attrs.user_data.get_mut::<ESUserData>() {
+                        data.state = None;
+                    }
+                });
+            }
+            _ => (),
+        },
+        None::<fn(_)>,
+        (),
+    )
+}
diff --git a/src/wayland/mod.rs b/src/wayland/mod.rs
index 68da307..1a899b6 100644
--- a/src/wayland/mod.rs
+++ b/src/wayland/mod.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ pub mod compositor;
 pub mod data_device;
 #[cfg(feature = "backend_drm")]
 pub mod dmabuf;
+pub mod explicit_synchronization;
 pub mod output;
 pub mod seat;
 pub mod shell;