diff --git a/src/vocalinux/text_injection/ibus_engine.py b/src/vocalinux/text_injection/ibus_engine.py
index 76e3d78..887ade3 100644
--- a/src/vocalinux/text_injection/ibus_engine.py
+++ b/src/vocalinux/text_injection/ibus_engine.py
@@ -553,6 +553,28 @@ def get_current_engine() -> Optional[str]:
     return None
 
 
+def _query_active_engine() -> Optional[str]:
+    """
+    Query the engine ibus-daemon actually reports, with no GNOME fallbacks.
+
+    Unlike :func:`get_current_engine`, this never consults gsettings, so it
+    can distinguish a really-active engine from a cleared global engine —
+    ``None`` means either "No global engine" or that the query failed.
+    """
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["ibus", "engine"], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5, env=host_env()
+        )
+        stderr_lower = result.stderr.lower() if result.stderr else ""
+        if "no global engine" in stderr_lower:
+            return None
+        if result.returncode == 0:
+            return result.stdout.strip() or None
+    except (subprocess.SubprocessError, FileNotFoundError):
+        pass
+    return None
+
+
 def _ibus_im_env_configured() -> bool:
     """True if the process env says IBus is the session input method."""
     gtk_im = os.environ.get("GTK_IM_MODULE", "").lower()
@@ -1588,15 +1610,32 @@ class IBusTextInjector:
         stop_engine_process()
 
         if restore_engine:
-            logger.info(f"Restoring previous engine after teardown: {restore_engine}")
-            restored = False
-            for attempt in range(3):
-                if switch_engine(restore_engine):
-                    restored = True
-                    break
-                time.sleep(0.15 * (attempt + 1))
-            if not restored:
-                logger.error(f"Failed to restore IBus engine after teardown: {restore_engine}")
+            # `ibus engine <name>` applies that engine's XKB map server-wide.
+            # Re-check the daemon (not the GNOME fallback) after teardown and
+            # skip the write when a real engine is already active — rewriting
+            # it collapses GNOME's multi-layout map (#954). The same skip
+            # applies when teardown left the engine cleared but the restore
+            # target is an xkb:* source on GNOME: gnome-shell owns that map
+            # and the write would only collapse it. A cleared global engine
+            # for a real IM engine still gets restored (#558).
+            live = _query_active_engine()
+            if live and live != ENGINE_NAME:
+                logger.info(f"Skipping engine restore — live engine already active: {live}")
+            elif live is None and _is_gnome_session() and restore_engine.startswith("xkb:"):
+                logger.info(
+                    "Skipping engine restore — engine cleared and GNOME owns "
+                    f"the XKB map; not rewriting {restore_engine}"
+                )
+            else:
+                logger.info(f"Restoring previous engine after teardown: {restore_engine}")
+                restored = False
+                for attempt in range(3):
+                    if switch_engine(restore_engine):
+                        restored = True
+                        break
+                    time.sleep(0.15 * (attempt + 1))
+                if not restored:
+                    logger.error(f"Failed to restore IBus engine after teardown: {restore_engine}")
         else:
             logger.info(
                 "Skipping engine restoration — no restorable engine was available at shutdown"
diff --git a/src/vocalinux/ui/keyboard_backends/__init__.py b/src/vocalinux/ui/keyboard_backends/__init__.py
index 9e42c57..4585691 100644
--- a/src/vocalinux/ui/keyboard_backends/__init__.py
+++ b/src/vocalinux/ui/keyboard_backends/__init__.py
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ class DesktopEnvironment:
         return DesktopEnvironment.UNKNOWN
 
 
+def _is_gnome_session() -> bool:
+    """Check if the current session is running under GNOME."""
+    return "GNOME" in os.environ.get("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP", "").upper()
+
+
 def create_backend(
     preferred_backend: Optional[str] = None,
     shortcut: str = DEFAULT_SHORTCUT,
@@ -152,6 +157,21 @@ def create_backend(
         )
         return None
 
+    # On GNOME's X11 session, mutter does not deliver physical key events
+    # through the XRecord extension that pynput's Listener relies on, so the
+    # listener starts cleanly but shortcuts stay dead (#954). evdev reads the
+    # kernel input devices directly, so prefer it here — but fall back to
+    # pynput when /dev/input is unusable rather than leaving shortcuts dead.
+    if env == DesktopEnvironment.X11 and _is_gnome_session() and EVDEV_AVAILABLE:
+        backend = EvdevKeyboardBackend(shortcut=shortcut, mode=mode)  # type: ignore
+        if backend.is_available():
+            logger.info("Using evdev backend for global shortcuts (GNOME X11)")
+            return backend
+        hint = backend.get_permission_hint()
+        if hint:
+            logger.warning(f"Evdev backend not usable on GNOME X11: {hint}")
+        logger.warning("Falling back to pynput; global shortcuts may not respond on GNOME X11")
+
     # Default to pynput for native X11 (or unknown)
     if PYNPUT_AVAILABLE:
         logger.info("Using pynput backend")
diff --git a/tests/test_ibus_engine.py b/tests/test_ibus_engine.py
index 87a3cbe..a9c3e2b 100644
--- a/tests/test_ibus_engine.py
+++ b/tests/test_ibus_engine.py
@@ -751,13 +751,14 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(sent["data"], b"\n")
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine", return_value=True)
     def test_stop_restores_engine(
-        self, mock_switch, mock_ensure_dir, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc
+        self, mock_switch, mock_ensure_dir, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_live
     ):
         """Test stop() restores cached engine when live engine is unavailable (#558)."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
@@ -776,13 +777,14 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual([c[0] for c in parent.mock_calls], ["stop_proc", "switch"])
         self.assertIsNone(injector._previous_engine)
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value="xkb:de::deu")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine", return_value=True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     def test_stop_prefers_live_engine_over_stale_warmup_cache(
-        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc
+        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_live
     ):
         """Quit must restore the live input source, not a stale warmup cache (#643 Bugbot)."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
@@ -797,13 +799,14 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_switch.assert_called_once_with("xkb:de::deu")
         self.assertIsNone(injector._previous_engine)
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value="xkb:es::spa")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine", return_value=True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     def test_stop_restores_current_engine_when_previous_unset(
-        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc
+        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_live
     ):
         """Warmup quit must restore the live engine after register_component teardown (#558)."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
@@ -822,6 +825,105 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_switch.assert_called_once_with("xkb:es::spa")
         self.assertEqual([c[0] for c in parent.mock_calls], ["stop_proc", "switch"])
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
+    @patch(
+        "vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine",
+        return_value="xkb:us::eng",
+    )
+    @patch(
+        "vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine",
+        return_value="xkb:us::eng",
+    )
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine")
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
+    def test_stop_skips_engine_write_when_live_engine_healthy(
+        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_live, mock_stop_proc
+    ):
+        """A healthy live engine must not be rewritten at quit (#954).
+
+        `ibus engine <name>` applies the engine's XKB map server-wide; on
+        GNOME the redundant write collapses the user's multi-layout map and
+        breaks keyboard layout switching after exit.
+        """
+        from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
+
+        injector = IBusTextInjector(auto_activate=False)
+        injector._previous_engine = "xkb:us::eng"
+
+        injector.stop()
+
+        mock_get_current.assert_called()
+        mock_stop_proc.assert_called_once()
+        mock_switch.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertIsNone(injector._previous_engine)
+
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._is_gnome_session", return_value=True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value=None)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine")
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
+    def test_stop_skips_xkb_restore_when_gnome_engine_cleared(
+        self,
+        mock_ensure_dir,
+        mock_switch,
+        mock_get_current,
+        mock_stop_proc,
+        mock_live,
+        mock_gnome,
+    ):
+        """On GNOME, a cleared engine with an xkb:* target must not be rewritten (#954).
+
+        gnome-shell owns the XKB map; restoring an xkb engine would only
+        collapse the user's multi-layout map.
+        """
+        from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
+
+        injector = IBusTextInjector(auto_activate=False)
+        injector._previous_engine = "xkb:us::eng"
+
+        injector.stop()
+
+        mock_stop_proc.assert_called_once()
+        mock_live.assert_called_once()
+        mock_switch.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertIsNone(injector._previous_engine)
+
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._is_gnome_session", return_value=True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value=None)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine", return_value=True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
+    def test_stop_restores_im_engine_when_gnome_teardown_cleared(
+        self,
+        mock_ensure_dir,
+        mock_switch,
+        mock_get_current,
+        mock_stop_proc,
+        mock_live,
+        mock_gnome,
+    ):
+        """On GNOME, a cleared engine with a real IM target still restores (#558).
+
+        A libpinyin/mozc user left with no global engine would lose input
+        method support entirely, so the restore write must still run.
+        """
+        from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
+
+        injector = IBusTextInjector(auto_activate=False)
+        injector._previous_engine = "libpinyin"
+
+        injector.stop()
+
+        mock_stop_proc.assert_called_once()
+        mock_live.assert_called_once()
+        mock_switch.assert_called_once_with("libpinyin")
+        self.assertIsNone(injector._previous_engine)
+
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine")
@@ -840,6 +942,7 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_stop_proc.assert_called_once()
         mock_switch.assert_not_called()
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.restore_xkb_layout")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value="xkb:es::spa")
@@ -847,7 +950,13 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     def test_stop_restores_xkb_layout(
-        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_restore_xkb
+        self,
+        mock_ensure_dir,
+        mock_switch,
+        mock_get_current,
+        mock_stop_proc,
+        mock_restore_xkb,
+        mock_live,
     ):
         """Test stop() restores XKB after post-teardown engine restore (#292/#558)."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
@@ -892,6 +1001,10 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
         mock_restore_xkb.assert_not_called()
         mock_switch.assert_not_called()
 
+    @patch(
+        "vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine",
+        return_value="vocalinux",
+    )
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch(
         "vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine",
@@ -901,7 +1014,7 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     def test_stop_uses_cached_engine_when_stuck_on_vocalinux(
-        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc
+        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_live
     ):
         """If quit finds vocalinux selected, fall back to the warmup-captured engine (#558)."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
diff --git a/tests/test_ibus_engine_core.py b/tests/test_ibus_engine_core.py
index 342014d..b2df534 100644
--- a/tests/test_ibus_engine_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_ibus_engine_core.py
@@ -627,9 +627,13 @@ class TestIBusTextInjector(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine")
-    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value="other-engine")
+    @patch(
+        "vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine",
+        return_value="other-engine",
+    )
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     def test_ibus_text_injector_stop(
-        self, mock_current_engine, mock_switch, mock_stop_proc, mock_ensure_dir
+        self, mock_live, mock_current_engine, mock_switch, mock_stop_proc, mock_ensure_dir
     ):
         """Test IBusTextInjector stop restores previous engine after teardown."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
diff --git a/tests/test_ibus_engine_utils.py b/tests/test_ibus_engine_utils.py
index 30ef29a..4bc7b53 100644
--- a/tests/test_ibus_engine_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_ibus_engine_utils.py
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ class TestStopEngineProcess(unittest.TestCase):
 class TestStopRestoreRetry(unittest.TestCase):
     """Coverage for stop() restore retry after teardown."""
 
+    @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine._query_active_engine", return_value=None)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.stop_engine_process")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.get_current_engine", return_value="xkb:es::spa")
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.switch_engine", return_value=False)
@@ -435,7 +436,7 @@ class TestStopRestoreRetry(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.IBUS_AVAILABLE", True)
     @patch("vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine.ensure_ibus_dir")
     def test_stop_retries_failed_engine_restore(
-        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_sleep, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc
+        self, mock_ensure_dir, mock_sleep, mock_switch, mock_get_current, mock_stop_proc, mock_live
     ):
         """stop() retries switch_engine after teardown when the first attempts fail."""
         from vocalinux.text_injection.ibus_engine import IBusTextInjector
diff --git a/tests/test_keyboard_init_ext.py b/tests/test_keyboard_init_ext.py
index 292827c..fe78607 100644
--- a/tests/test_keyboard_init_ext.py
+++ b/tests/test_keyboard_init_ext.py
@@ -115,6 +115,56 @@ class TestDesktopEnvironmentDetect:
         mock_pynput.assert_called_once()
         mock_evdev.assert_not_called()
 
+    def test_create_backend_gnome_x11_prefers_evdev(self) -> None:
+        """GNOME X11 must prefer evdev: mutter's XRecord drops physical key events (#954)."""
+        from vocalinux.ui.keyboard_backends import create_backend
+
+        fake = MagicMock()
+        fake.is_available.return_value = True
+
+        env = {
+            "XDG_SESSION_TYPE": "x11",
+            "XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP": "GNOME",
+            "DISPLAY": ":0",
+        }
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
+            with (
+                patch.object(kb_module, "EVDEV_AVAILABLE", True),
+                patch.object(kb_module, "EvdevKeyboardBackend", return_value=fake) as mock_evdev,
+                patch.object(kb_module, "PYNPUT_AVAILABLE", True),
+                patch.object(kb_module, "PynputKeyboardBackend") as mock_pynput,
+            ):
+                backend = create_backend()
+        assert backend is fake
+        mock_evdev.assert_called_once()
+        mock_pynput.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_create_backend_gnome_x11_falls_back_to_pynput(self) -> None:
+        """GNOME X11 keeps pynput when evdev cannot read /dev/input (#954)."""
+        from vocalinux.ui.keyboard_backends import create_backend
+
+        fake = MagicMock()
+        fake.is_available.return_value = False
+        fake.get_permission_hint.return_value = "not in input group"
+
+        env = {
+            "XDG_SESSION_TYPE": "x11",
+            "XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP": "ubuntu:GNOME",
+            "DISPLAY": ":0",
+        }
+        with patch.dict(os.environ, env, clear=True):
+            with (
+                patch.object(kb_module, "EVDEV_AVAILABLE", True),
+                patch.object(kb_module, "EvdevKeyboardBackend", return_value=fake),
+                patch.object(kb_module, "PYNPUT_AVAILABLE", True),
+                patch.object(
+                    kb_module, "PynputKeyboardBackend", return_value=MagicMock()
+                ) as mock_pynput,
+            ):
+                backend = create_backend()
+        assert backend is mock_pynput.return_value
+        mock_pynput.assert_called_once()
+
     def test_detect_xdg_session_type_case_insensitive(self):
         """Test that XDG_SESSION_TYPE detection is case-insensitive."""
         with patch.dict(os.environ, {"XDG_SESSION_TYPE": "WAYLAND"}, clear=False):