diff --git a/xinput-ibus b/xinput-ibus
index 4f2777fe..4e516b61 100644
--- a/xinput-ibus
+++ b/xinput-ibus
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 XIM=ibus
-XIM_PROGRAM="/bin/cat /dev/zero"
-XIM_ARGS=""
+# define a fake XIM program
+XIM_PROGRAM="/bin/sleep"
+XIM_ARGS="0xefffffff"
 PREFERENCE_PROGRAM=/usr/bin/ibus-setup
 SHORT_DESC="IBus"
 GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus