diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
@@ -677,6 +677,8 @@
 void DrmBackend::updateCursor()
 {
     if (usesSoftwareCursor()) {
+        // trigger software cursor texture update
+        emit Cursor::self()->cursorChanged();
         return;
     }
     if (isCursorHidden()) {
@@ -702,7 +704,7 @@
 
 void DrmBackend::doHideCursor()
 {
-    if (!m_cursorEnabled) {
+    if (!m_cursorEnabled || usesSoftwareCursor()) {
         return;
     }
     for (auto it = m_outputs.constBegin(); it != m_outputs.constEnd(); ++it) {
@@ -712,7 +714,7 @@
 
 void DrmBackend::moveCursor()
 {
-    if (!m_cursorEnabled || isCursorHidden()) {
+    if (!m_cursorEnabled || isCursorHidden() || usesSoftwareCursor()) {
         return;
     }
     for (auto it = m_outputs.constBegin(); it != m_outputs.constEnd(); ++it) {
diff --git a/plugins/scenes/opengl/scene_opengl.cpp b/plugins/scenes/opengl/scene_opengl.cpp
--- a/plugins/scenes/opengl/scene_opengl.cpp
+++ b/plugins/scenes/opengl/scene_opengl.cpp
@@ -596,8 +596,10 @@
  */
 void SceneOpenGL2::paintCursor()
 {
-    // don't paint if we use hardware cursor
-    if (!kwinApp()->platform()->usesSoftwareCursor()) {
+    // don't paint if we use hardware cursor or the cursor is hidden
+    if (!kwinApp()->platform()->usesSoftwareCursor() ||
+        kwinApp()->platform()->isCursorHidden() ||
+        kwinApp()->platform()->softwareCursor().isNull()) {
         return;
     }