diff --git a/src/changelog/unreleased.md b/src/changelog/unreleased.md
index cb8e6a6727..6ab1cde7b0 100644
--- a/src/changelog/unreleased.md
+++ b/src/changelog/unreleased.md
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ changelog entry.
   when not called from inside the event loop. Now queues a microtask instead.
 - On Windows, prevent incorrect shifting when dragging window onto a monitor
   with different DPI.
+- On X11, don't panic in `Window::request_user_attention` when the connection
+  is dead; log the send failure and carry on.
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/src/platform_impl/linux/x11/window.rs b/src/platform_impl/linux/x11/window.rs
index 1acca0b1d0..72305085f5 100644
--- a/src/platform_impl/linux/x11/window.rs
+++ b/src/platform_impl/linux/x11/window.rs
@@ -1814,9 +1814,10 @@ impl UnownedWindow {
                 .unwrap_or_default();
 
         wm_hints.urgent = request_type.is_some();
-        wm_hints
-            .set(self.xconn.xcb_connection(), self.xwindow as xproto::Window)
-            .expect_then_ignore_error("Failed to set WM hints");
+        match wm_hints.set(self.xconn.xcb_connection(), self.xwindow as xproto::Window) {
+            Ok(cookie) => cookie.ignore_error(),
+            Err(e) => warn!("failed to send WM hints when requesting user attention: {e}"),
+        }
     }
 
     #[inline]