diff --git a/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.cpp b/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.cpp
index 8f625168..1db5a0c6 100644
--- a/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.cpp
+++ b/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.cpp
@@ -8,16 +8,20 @@ CServerDecorationKDE::CServerDecorationKDE(SP<COrgKdeKwinServerDecoration> resou
     m_resource->setRelease([this](COrgKdeKwinServerDecoration* pMgr) { PROTO::serverDecorationKDE->destroyResource(this); });
     m_resource->setOnDestroy([this](COrgKdeKwinServerDecoration* pMgr) { PROTO::serverDecorationKDE->destroyResource(this); });
     m_resource->setRequestMode([this](COrgKdeKwinServerDecoration*, uint32_t mode) {
+        if (m_requestsSent > 3)
+            return; // don't start a tug of war
+
         auto sendMode = kdeModeOnRequestCSD(mode);
         m_resource->sendMode(sendMode);
-        mostRecentlySent      = sendMode;
-        mostRecentlyRequested = mode;
+        m_mostRecentlySent      = sendMode;
+        m_mostRecentlyRequested = mode;
+        m_requestsSent++;
     });
 
     // we send this and ignore request_mode.
     auto sendMode = kdeDefaultModeCSD();
     m_resource->sendMode(sendMode);
-    mostRecentlySent = sendMode;
+    m_mostRecentlySent = sendMode;
 }
 
 bool CServerDecorationKDE::good() {
diff --git a/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.hpp b/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.hpp
index aa350093..7eb2395a 100644
--- a/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.hpp
+++ b/src/protocols/ServerDecorationKDE.hpp
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ class CServerDecorationKDE {
 
     SP<CWLSurfaceResource> m_surf;
 
-    uint32_t               mostRecentlySent      = 0;
-    uint32_t               mostRecentlyRequested = 0;
+    uint32_t               m_mostRecentlySent      = 0;
+    uint32_t               m_mostRecentlyRequested = 0;
 
     bool                   good();
 
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class CServerDecorationKDE {
     uint32_t                        kdeModeOnReleaseCSD();
 
     SP<COrgKdeKwinServerDecoration> m_resource;
+
+    uint32_t                        m_requestsSent = 0;
 };
 
 class CServerDecorationKDEProtocol : public IWaylandProtocol {