diff --git a/driver/xf86-input-keyboard/src/kbd.c b/driver/xf86-input-keyboard/src/kbd.c
index 4496c6b5e..dc42996a5 100644
--- a/driver/xf86-input-keyboard/src/kbd.c
+++ b/driver/xf86-input-keyboard/src/kbd.c
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ KbdPreInit(InputDriverPtr drv, InputInfoPtr pInfo, int flags)
     xkb_layout = xf86SetStrOption(pInfo->options, "XkbLayout", NULL);
     xkb_variant = xf86SetStrOption(pInfo->options, "XkbVariant", NULL);
     xkb_options = xf86SetStrOption(pInfo->options, "XkbOptions", NULL);
+#ifdef USE_XKEYBOARD_CONFIG
+    if (xkb_options == NULL)
+	xkb_options = strdup("terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp");
+#endif
 
     pKbd->CustomKeycodes = xf86SetBoolOption(pInfo->options, "CustomKeycodes",
                                              FALSE);