diff --git a/anvil/src/shell.rs b/anvil/src/shell.rs
index 757c4df..f3e9d8f 100644
--- a/anvil/src/shell.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/shell.rs
@@ -755,9 +755,9 @@ impl SurfaceData {
     }
 
     /// Send the frame callback if it had been requested
-    pub fn send_frame(&mut self, serial: Serial) {
+    pub fn send_frame(&mut self, time: u32) {
         if let Some(callback) = self.current_state.frame_callback.take() {
-            callback.done(serial.into());
+            callback.done(time);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/anvil/src/udev.rs b/anvil/src/udev.rs
index 0f33b28..c65b037 100644
--- a/anvil/src/udev.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/udev.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ use smithay::{
         compositor::CompositorToken,
         output::{Mode, Output, PhysicalProperties},
         seat::CursorImageStatus,
-        SERIAL_COUNTER as SCOUNTER,
     },
 };
 
@@ -450,6 +449,7 @@ impl<Data: 'static> UdevHandlerImpl<Data> {
                 cursor_status: self.cursor_status.clone(),
                 dnd_icon: self.dnd_icon.clone(),
                 logger: self.logger.clone(),
+                start_time: std::time::Instant::now(),
             });
             let mut listener = DrmRendererSessionListener {
                 renderer: renderer.clone(),
@@ -582,6 +582,7 @@ pub struct DrmRenderer {
     cursor_status: Arc<Mutex<CursorImageStatus>>,
     dnd_icon: Arc<Mutex<Option<wl_surface::WlSurface>>>,
     logger: ::slog::Logger,
+    start_time: std::time::Instant,
 }
 
 impl DrmRenderer {
@@ -727,7 +728,9 @@ impl DrmRenderer {
             } else {
                 // TODO: only send drawn windows the frames callback
                 // Send frame events so that client start drawing their next frame
-                self.window_map.borrow().send_frames(SCOUNTER.next_serial());
+                self.window_map
+                    .borrow()
+                    .send_frames(self.start_time.elapsed().as_millis() as u32);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/anvil/src/window_map.rs b/anvil/src/window_map.rs
index 90a51bf..54eb33f 100644
--- a/anvil/src/window_map.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/window_map.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ use smithay::{
             legacy::{ShellSurface, ShellSurfaceRole},
             xdg::{ToplevelSurface, XdgSurfaceRole},
         },
-        Serial,
     },
 };
 
@@ -173,7 +172,7 @@ where
 
     /// Sends the frame callback to all the subsurfaces in this
     /// window that requested it
-    pub fn send_frame(&self, serial: Serial, ctoken: CompositorToken<R>) {
+    pub fn send_frame(&self, time: u32, ctoken: CompositorToken<R>) {
         if let Some(wl_surface) = self.toplevel.get_surface() {
             ctoken.with_surface_tree_downward(
                 wl_surface,
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ where
                     // the surface may not have any user_data if it is a subsurface and has not
                     // yet been commited
                     if let Some(data) = attributes.user_data.get::<RefCell<SurfaceData>>() {
-                        data.borrow_mut().send_frame(serial)
+                        data.borrow_mut().send_frame(time)
                     }
                 },
                 |_, _, _, &()| true,
@@ -313,9 +312,9 @@ where
             .map(|w| w.geometry(self.ctoken))
     }
 
-    pub fn send_frames(&self, serial: Serial) {
+    pub fn send_frames(&self, time: u32) {
         for window in &self.windows {
-            window.send_frame(serial, self.ctoken);
+            window.send_frame(time, self.ctoken);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/anvil/src/winit.rs b/anvil/src/winit.rs
index 7c876b0..4f3c6a4 100644
--- a/anvil/src/winit.rs
+++ b/anvil/src/winit.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ use smithay::{
     wayland::{
         output::{Mode, Output, PhysicalProperties},
         seat::CursorImageStatus,
-        SERIAL_COUNTER as SCOUNTER,
     },
 };
 
@@ -90,6 +89,8 @@ pub fn run_winit(
         refresh: 60_000,
     });
 
+    let start_time = std::time::Instant::now();
+
     info!(log, "Initialization completed, starting the main loop.");
 
     while state.running.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
@@ -140,7 +141,11 @@ pub fn run_winit(
             }
         }
         // Send frame events so that client start drawing their next frame
-        state.window_map.borrow().send_frames(SCOUNTER.next_serial());
+        state
+            .window_map
+            .borrow()
+            .send_frames(start_time.elapsed().as_millis() as u32);
+        display.borrow_mut().flush_clients(&mut state);
 
         if event_loop
             .dispatch(Some(Duration::from_millis(16)), &mut state)