diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -279,6 +279,13 @@
     PURPOSE "Needed for running kwin_wayland"
     )
 
+find_package(Libcap)
+set_package_properties(Libcap PROPERTIES
+    TYPE OPTIONAL
+    PURPOSE "Needed for running kwin_wayland with real-time scheduling policy"
+)
+set(HAVE_LIBCAP ${Libcap_FOUND})
+
 ########### configure tests ###############
 include(CMakeDependentOption)
 
@@ -339,6 +346,11 @@
                  HAVE_LINUX_FB_H
                  "Required for the fbdev backend")
 
+check_symbol_exists(SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK "sched.h" HAVE_SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK)
+add_feature_info("SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK"
+                 HAVE_SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK
+                 "Required for running kwin_wayland with real-time scheduling")
+
 ########### global ###############
 set(kwin_effects_dbus_xml ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/org.kde.kwin.Effects.xml)
 
@@ -624,8 +636,20 @@
 
 add_executable(kwin_wayland main_wayland.cpp)
 target_link_libraries(kwin_wayland kwin)
+if (HAVE_LIBCAP)
+    target_link_libraries(kwin_wayland ${Libcap_LIBRARIES})
+endif()
 
 install(TARGETS kwin_wayland         ${INSTALL_TARGETS_DEFAULT_ARGS} )
+if (HAVE_LIBCAP)
+    install(
+    CODE "execute_process(
+            COMMAND
+                ${SETCAP_EXECUTABLE}
+                CAP_SYS_NICE=+ep
+                ${CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR}/kwin_wayland)"
+    )
+endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(platformsupport)
 add_subdirectory(plugins)
diff --git a/cmake/modules/FindLibcap.cmake b/cmake/modules/FindLibcap.cmake
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/modules/FindLibcap.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Try to find the setcap binary and cap libraries
+#
+# This will define:
+#
+#   Libcap_FOUND           - system has the cap library and setcap binary
+#   Libcap_LIBRARIES       - cap libraries to link against
+#   SETCAP_EXECUTABLE      - path of the setcap binary
+# In addition, the following targets are defined:
+#
+#   Libcap::SetCapabilities
+#
+
+
+# Copyright (c) 2014, Hrvoje Senjan, <hrvoje.senjan@gmail.com>
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+# are met:
+#
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the copyright
+#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# 3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
+#    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+# OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
+# IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+# INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
+# NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+# THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+find_program(SETCAP_EXECUTABLE NAMES setcap DOC "The setcap executable")
+
+find_library(Libcap_LIBRARIES NAMES cap DOC "The cap (capabilities) library")
+
+include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+find_package_handle_standard_args(Libcap FOUND_VAR Libcap_FOUND
+                                      REQUIRED_VARS SETCAP_EXECUTABLE Libcap_LIBRARIES)
+
+if(Libcap_FOUND AND NOT TARGET Libcap::SetCapabilities)
+    add_executable(Libcap::SetCapabilities IMPORTED)
+    set_target_properties(Libcap::SetCapabilities PROPERTIES
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION "${SETCAP_EXECUTABLE}"
+    )
+endif()
+
+mark_as_advanced(SETCAP_EXECUTABLE Libcap_LIBRARIES)
+
+include(FeatureSummary)
+set_package_properties(Libcap PROPERTIES
+    URL https://sites.google.com/site/fullycapable/
+    DESCRIPTION "Capabilities are a measure to limit the omnipotence of the superuser.")
diff --git a/config-kwin.h.cmake b/config-kwin.h.cmake
--- a/config-kwin.h.cmake
+++ b/config-kwin.h.cmake
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #cmakedefine01 HAVE_SYS_SYSMACROS_H
 #cmakedefine01 HAVE_BREEZE_DECO
 #cmakedefine01 HAVE_UDEV
+#cmakedefine01 HAVE_LIBCAP
+#cmakedefine01 HAVE_SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK
 #if HAVE_BREEZE_DECO
 #define BREEZE_KDECORATION_PLUGIN_ID "${BREEZE_KDECORATION_PLUGIN_ID}"
 #endif
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@
 #include <sys/procctl.h>
 #endif
 
+#if HAVE_LIBCAP
+#include <sys/capability.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <sched.h>
+
 #include <iostream>
 #include <iomanip>
 
@@ -438,13 +444,46 @@
     return;
 }
 
+void gainRealTime()
+{
+#if HAVE_SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK
+    const int minPriority = sched_get_priority_min(SCHED_RR);
+    struct sched_param sp;
+    sp.sched_priority = minPriority;
+    sched_setscheduler(0, SCHED_RR | SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK, &sp);
+#endif
+}
+
+void dropNiceCapability()
+{
+#if HAVE_LIBCAP
+    cap_t caps = cap_get_proc();
+    if (!caps) {
+        return;
+    }
+    cap_value_t capList[] = { CAP_SYS_NICE };
+    if (cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_PERMITTED, 1, capList, CAP_CLEAR) == -1) {
+        cap_free(caps);
+        return;
+    }
+    if (cap_set_flag(caps, CAP_EFFECTIVE, 1, capList, CAP_CLEAR) == -1) {
+        cap_free(caps);
+        return;
+    }
+    cap_set_proc(caps);
+    cap_free(caps);
+#endif
+}
+
 } // namespace
 
 int main(int argc, char * argv[])
 {
     KWin::disablePtrace();
     KWin::Application::setupMalloc();
     KWin::Application::setupLocalizedString();
+    KWin::gainRealTime();
+    KWin::dropNiceCapability();
 
     if (signal(SIGTERM, KWin::sighandler) == SIG_IGN)
         signal(SIGTERM, SIG_IGN);