diff --git a/src/backend/drm/common/fallback.rs b/src/backend/drm/common/fallback.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69679a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/drm/common/fallback.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+//!
+//! Types to make fallback device initialization easier
+//!
+
+#[cfg(all(feature = "backend_drm_atomic", feature = "backend_drm_legacy"))]
+use crate::backend::drm::{atomic::AtomicDrmDevice, legacy::LegacyDrmDevice};
+use crate::backend::drm::{common::Error, Device, DeviceHandler, RawDevice, RawSurface, Surface};
+use crate::backend::egl::Error as EGLError;
+#[cfg(feature = "use_system_lib")]
+use crate::backend::egl::{display::EGLBufferReader, EGLGraphicsBackend};
+#[cfg(feature = "renderer_gl")]
+use crate::backend::graphics::gl::GLGraphicsBackend;
+#[cfg(feature = "renderer_gl")]
+use crate::backend::graphics::PixelFormat;
+use crate::backend::graphics::{CursorBackend, SwapBuffersError};
+use crate::backend::session::{AsSessionObserver, SessionObserver};
+
+use drm::{
+    control::{connector, crtc, encoder, framebuffer, plane, Device as ControlDevice, Mode, ResourceHandles},
+    Device as BasicDevice, SystemError as DrmError,
+};
+#[cfg(feature = "renderer_gl")]
+use nix::libc::c_void;
+use nix::libc::dev_t;
+use std::os::unix::io::{AsRawFd, RawFd};
+#[cfg(feature = "use_system_lib")]
+use wayland_server::Display;
+
+/// [`Device`](::backend::drm::Device) Wrapper to assist fallback
+/// in case initialization of the preferred device type fails.
+pub enum FallbackDevice<D1: Device + 'static, D2: Device + 'static> {
+    /// Variant for successful initialization of the preferred device
+    Preference(D1),
+    /// Variant for the fallback device
+    Fallback(D2),
+}
+
+struct FallbackDeviceHandlerD1<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2>(
+    Box<dyn DeviceHandler<Device = FallbackDevice<D1, D2>> + 'static>,
+)
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: Device<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device<Surface = S2> + 'static;
+
+impl<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2> DeviceHandler for FallbackDeviceHandlerD1<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2>
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: Device<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device<Surface = S2> + 'static,
+{
+    type Device = D1;
+
+    fn vblank(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) {
+        self.0.vblank(crtc)
+    }
+    fn error(&mut self, error: E) {
+        self.0.error(error);
+    }
+}
+
+struct FallbackDeviceHandlerD2<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2>(
+    Box<dyn DeviceHandler<Device = FallbackDevice<D1, D2>> + 'static>,
+)
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: Device<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device<Surface = S2> + 'static;
+
+impl<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2> DeviceHandler for FallbackDeviceHandlerD2<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2>
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: Device<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device<Surface = S2> + 'static,
+{
+    type Device = D2;
+
+    fn vblank(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) {
+        self.0.vblank(crtc)
+    }
+    fn error(&mut self, error: E) {
+        self.0.error(error);
+    }
+}
+
+/// [`SessionObserver`](::backend::session::SessionObserver) Wrapper to assist fallback
+/// in case initialization of the preferred device type fails.
+pub enum FallbackDeviceObserver<O1: SessionObserver + 'static, O2: SessionObserver + 'static> {
+    /// Variant for successful initialization of the preferred device
+    Preference(O1),
+    /// Variant for the fallback device
+    Fallback(O2),
+}
+
+impl<O1, O2, D1, D2> AsSessionObserver<FallbackDeviceObserver<O1, O2>> for FallbackDevice<D1, D2>
+where
+    O1: SessionObserver + 'static,
+    O2: SessionObserver + 'static,
+    D1: Device + AsSessionObserver<O1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device + AsSessionObserver<O2> + 'static,
+{
+    fn observer(&mut self) -> FallbackDeviceObserver<O1, O2> {
+        match self {
+            FallbackDevice::Preference(dev) => FallbackDeviceObserver::Preference(dev.observer()),
+            FallbackDevice::Fallback(dev) => FallbackDeviceObserver::Fallback(dev.observer()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<O1: SessionObserver + 'static, O2: SessionObserver + 'static> SessionObserver
+    for FallbackDeviceObserver<O1, O2>
+{
+    fn pause(&mut self, device: Option<(u32, u32)>) {
+        match self {
+            FallbackDeviceObserver::Preference(dev) => dev.pause(device),
+            FallbackDeviceObserver::Fallback(dev) => dev.pause(device),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn activate(&mut self, device: Option<(u32, u32, Option<RawFd>)>) {
+        match self {
+            FallbackDeviceObserver::Preference(dev) => dev.activate(device),
+            FallbackDeviceObserver::Fallback(dev) => dev.activate(device),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// [`Surface`](::backend::drm::Surface) Wrapper to assist fallback
+/// in case initialization of the preferred device type fails.
+pub enum FallbackSurface<S1: Surface, S2: Surface> {
+    /// Variant for successful initialization of the preferred device
+    Preference(S1),
+    /// Variant for the fallback device
+    Fallback(S2),
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(feature = "backend_drm_atomic", feature = "backend_drm_legacy"))]
+impl<A: AsRawFd + Clone + 'static> FallbackDevice<AtomicDrmDevice<A>, LegacyDrmDevice<A>> {
+    /// Try to initialize an [`AtomicDrmDevice`](::backend::drm:;atomic::AtomicDrmDevice)
+    /// and fall back to a [`LegacyDrmDevice`] if atomic-modesetting is not supported.
+    pub fn new<L>(fd: A, logger: L) -> Result<Self, Error>
+    where
+        L: Into<Option<::slog::Logger>>,
+    {
+        let log = crate::slog_or_stdlog(logger).new(o!("smithay_module" => "backend_drm_fallback"));
+        info!(log, "Trying to initialize AtomicDrmDevice");
+
+        match AtomicDrmDevice::new(fd.clone(), log.clone()) {
+            Ok(dev) => Ok(FallbackDevice::Preference(dev)),
+            Err(err) => {
+                error!(log, "Failed to initialize preferred AtomicDrmDevice: {}", err);
+                info!(log, "Falling back to fallback LegacyyDrmDevice");
+                Ok(FallbackDevice::Fallback(LegacyDrmDevice::new(fd, log)?))
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+macro_rules! fallback_device_impl {
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty, $return:ty, $($arg_name:ident : $arg_ty:ty),*) => {
+        fn $func_name(self: $self, $($arg_name : $arg_ty),*) -> $return {
+            match self {
+                FallbackDevice::Preference(dev) => dev.$func_name($($arg_name),*),
+                FallbackDevice::Fallback(dev) => dev.$func_name($($arg_name),*),
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty, $return:ty) => {
+        fallback_device_impl!($func_name, $self, $return,);
+    };
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty) => {
+        fallback_device_impl!($func_name, $self, ());
+    };
+}
+
+macro_rules! fallback_surface_impl {
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty, $return:ty, $($arg_name:ident : $arg_ty:ty),*) => {
+        fn $func_name(self: $self, $($arg_name : $arg_ty),*) -> $return {
+            match self {
+                FallbackSurface::Preference(dev) => dev.$func_name($($arg_name),*),
+                FallbackSurface::Fallback(dev) => dev.$func_name($($arg_name),*),
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty, $return:ty) => {
+        fallback_surface_impl!($func_name, $self, $return,);
+    };
+    ($func_name:ident, $self:ty) => {
+        fallback_surface_impl!($func_name, $self, ());
+    };
+}
+
+impl<D1: Device, D2: Device> AsRawFd for FallbackDevice<D1, D2> {
+    fallback_device_impl!(as_raw_fd, &Self, RawFd);
+}
+impl<D1: Device + BasicDevice, D2: Device + BasicDevice> BasicDevice for FallbackDevice<D1, D2> {}
+impl<D1: Device + ControlDevice, D2: Device + ControlDevice> ControlDevice for FallbackDevice<D1, D2> {}
+
+impl<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2> Device for FallbackDevice<D1, D2>
+where
+    // Connectors and Error need to match for both Surfaces
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: Device<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: Device<Surface = S2> + 'static,
+{
+    type Surface = FallbackSurface<S1, S2>;
+
+    fallback_device_impl!(device_id, &Self, dev_t);
+    fn set_handler(&mut self, handler: impl DeviceHandler<Device = Self> + 'static) {
+        match self {
+            FallbackDevice::Preference(dev) => dev.set_handler(FallbackDeviceHandlerD1(Box::new(handler))),
+            FallbackDevice::Fallback(dev) => dev.set_handler(FallbackDeviceHandlerD2(Box::new(handler))),
+        }
+    }
+    fallback_device_impl!(clear_handler, &mut Self);
+    fn create_surface(&mut self, crtc: crtc::Handle) -> Result<Self::Surface, E> {
+        match self {
+            FallbackDevice::Preference(dev) => Ok(FallbackSurface::Preference(dev.create_surface(crtc)?)),
+            FallbackDevice::Fallback(dev) => Ok(FallbackSurface::Fallback(dev.create_surface(crtc)?)),
+        }
+    }
+    fallback_device_impl!(process_events, &mut Self);
+    fallback_device_impl!(resource_handles, &Self, Result<ResourceHandles, E>);
+    fallback_device_impl!(get_connector_info, &Self, Result<connector::Info, DrmError>, conn: connector::Handle);
+    fallback_device_impl!(get_crtc_info, &Self, Result<crtc::Info, DrmError>, crtc: crtc::Handle);
+    fallback_device_impl!(get_encoder_info, &Self, Result<encoder::Info, DrmError>, enc: encoder::Handle);
+    fallback_device_impl!(get_framebuffer_info, &Self, Result<framebuffer::Info, DrmError>, fb: framebuffer::Handle);
+    fallback_device_impl!(get_plane_info, &Self, Result<plane::Info, DrmError>, plane : plane::Handle);
+}
+
+// Impl RawDevice where underlying types implement RawDevice
+impl<E, C, S1, S2, D1, D2> RawDevice for FallbackDevice<D1, D2>
+where
+    // Connectors and Error need to match for both Surfaces
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: RawSurface + Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: RawSurface + Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    D1: RawDevice<Surface = S1> + 'static,
+    D2: RawDevice<Surface = S2> + 'static,
+{
+    type Surface = FallbackSurface<S1, S2>;
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "use_system_lib")]
+impl<D1: Device + EGLGraphicsBackend + 'static, D2: Device + EGLGraphicsBackend + 'static> EGLGraphicsBackend
+    for FallbackDevice<D1, D2>
+{
+    fallback_device_impl!(bind_wl_display, &Self, Result<EGLBufferReader, EGLError>, display : &Display);
+}
+
+impl<E, C, S1, S2> Surface for FallbackSurface<S1, S2>
+where
+    // Connectors and Error need to match for both Surfaces
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+{
+    type Error = E;
+    type Connectors = C;
+
+    fallback_surface_impl!(crtc, &Self, crtc::Handle);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(current_connectors, &Self, C);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(pending_connectors, &Self, C);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(add_connector, &Self, Result<(), E>, conn: connector::Handle);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(remove_connector, &Self, Result<(), E>, conn: connector::Handle);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(set_connectors, &Self, Result<(), E>, conns: &[connector::Handle]);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(current_mode, &Self, Option<Mode>);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(pending_mode, &Self, Option<Mode>);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(use_mode, &Self, Result<(), E>, mode: Option<Mode>);
+}
+
+impl<E, C, S1, S2> RawSurface for FallbackSurface<S1, S2>
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: RawSurface + Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+    S2: RawSurface + Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + 'static,
+{
+    fallback_surface_impl!(commit_pending, &Self, bool);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(commit, &Self, Result<(), E>, fb: framebuffer::Handle);
+    fn page_flip(&self, framebuffer: framebuffer::Handle) -> Result<(), SwapBuffersError> {
+        match self {
+            FallbackSurface::Preference(dev) => RawSurface::page_flip(dev, framebuffer),
+            FallbackSurface::Fallback(dev) => RawSurface::page_flip(dev, framebuffer),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<S1: Surface + AsRawFd, S2: Surface + AsRawFd> AsRawFd for FallbackSurface<S1, S2> {
+    fallback_surface_impl!(as_raw_fd, &Self, RawFd);
+}
+impl<S1: Surface + BasicDevice, S2: Surface + BasicDevice> BasicDevice for FallbackSurface<S1, S2> {}
+impl<S1: Surface + ControlDevice, S2: Surface + ControlDevice> ControlDevice for FallbackSurface<S1, S2> {}
+
+impl<E1, E2, C, CF, S1, S2> CursorBackend for FallbackSurface<S1, S2>
+where
+    E1: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    E2: 'static,
+    CF: ?Sized,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E1, Connectors = C> + CursorBackend<CursorFormat = CF, Error = E2> + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E1, Connectors = C> + CursorBackend<CursorFormat = CF, Error = E2> + 'static,
+{
+    type CursorFormat = CF;
+    type Error = E2;
+
+    fallback_surface_impl!(set_cursor_position, &Self, Result<(), E2>, x: u32, y: u32);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(set_cursor_representation, &Self, Result<(), E2>, buffer: &Self::CursorFormat, hotspot: (u32, u32));
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "renderer_gl")]
+impl<E, C, S1, S2> GLGraphicsBackend for FallbackSurface<S1, S2>
+where
+    E: std::error::Error + Send + 'static,
+    C: IntoIterator<Item = connector::Handle> + 'static,
+    S1: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + GLGraphicsBackend + 'static,
+    S2: Surface<Error = E, Connectors = C> + GLGraphicsBackend + 'static,
+{
+    fallback_surface_impl!(swap_buffers, &Self, Result<(), SwapBuffersError>);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(get_proc_address, &Self, *const c_void, symbol: &str);
+    fallback_surface_impl!(get_framebuffer_dimensions, &Self, (u32, u32));
+    fallback_surface_impl!(is_current, &Self, bool);
+    unsafe fn make_current(&self) -> Result<(), SwapBuffersError> {
+        match self {
+            FallbackSurface::Preference(dev) => dev.make_current(),
+            FallbackSurface::Fallback(dev) => dev.make_current(),
+        }
+    }
+    fallback_surface_impl!(get_pixel_format, &Self, PixelFormat);
+}
diff --git a/src/backend/drm/common/mod.rs b/src/backend/drm/common/mod.rs
index 9e89a0b..83ef7c2 100644
--- a/src/backend/drm/common/mod.rs
+++ b/src/backend/drm/common/mod.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 //!
 //! Module for common/shared types of the various [`Device`](::backend::drm::Device)
 //! and [`Surface`](::backend::drm::Surface) implementations of the `backend::drm` module.
-//! 
+//!
 
 use drm::control::{connector, crtc, Mode, RawResourceHandle};
 
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
+pub mod fallback;
+
 /// Errors thrown by the [`LegacyDrmDevice`](::backend::drm::legacy::LegacyDrmDevice),
 /// [`AtomicDrmDevice`](::backend::drm::atomic::AtomicDrmDevice)
 /// and their surfaces: [`LegacyDrmSurface`](::backend::drm::legacy::LegacyDrmSurface)