diff --git a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandevents.c b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandevents.c
index 5970b18db31e5..5e27aa9fcc51a 100644
--- a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandevents.c
+++ b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandevents.c
@@ -1682,28 +1682,34 @@ static void keyboard_handle_keymap(void *data, struct wl_keyboard *keyboard,
     seat->keyboard.xkb.num_layouts = 0;
 
 #if SDL_XKBCOMMON_CHECK_VERSION(1, 10, 0)
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.shift_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_SHIFT);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.ctrl_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_CTRL);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.alt_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_ALT);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.gui_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_SUPER);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.level3_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_LEVEL3);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.level5_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_LEVEL5);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.num_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_NUM);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.caps_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_CAPS);
-#else
+    /* The libxkbcommon loaded at runtime may be older than the headers, and lack
+     * xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(), so fall back to the modifier indices without it.
+     */
+    if (WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask) {
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.shift_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_SHIFT);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.ctrl_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_CTRL);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.alt_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_ALT);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.gui_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_SUPER);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.level3_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_LEVEL3);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.level5_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_LEVEL5);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.num_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_VMOD_NAME_NUM);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.caps_mask = WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_CAPS);
+    } else
+#endif
+    {
 #define GET_MOD_INDEX(mod) \
     WAYLAND_xkb_keymap_mod_get_index(seat->keyboard.xkb.keymap, XKB_MOD_NAME_##mod)
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.shift_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(SHIFT);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.ctrl_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(CTRL);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.alt_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(ALT);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.gui_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(LOGO);
-    // Note: This is correct: Mod3 is typically level 5 shift, and Mod5 is typically level 3 shift.
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.level3_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(MOD5);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.level5_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(MOD3);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.num_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(NUM);
-    seat->keyboard.xkb.caps_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(CAPS);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.shift_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(SHIFT);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.ctrl_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(CTRL);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.alt_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(ALT);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.gui_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(LOGO);
+        // Note: This is correct: Mod3 is typically level 5 shift, and Mod5 is typically level 3 shift.
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.level3_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(MOD5);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.level5_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(MOD3);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.num_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(NUM);
+        seat->keyboard.xkb.caps_mask = 1 << GET_MOD_INDEX(CAPS);
 #undef GET_MOD_INDEX
-#endif
+    }
 
     if (seat->keyboard.xkb.state != NULL) {
         /* if there's already a state, throw it away rather than leaking it before
diff --git a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandsym.h b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandsym.h
index 4628f361aea57..a639622bb6f58 100644
--- a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandsym.h
+++ b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandsym.h
@@ -169,7 +169,8 @@ SDL_WAYLAND_SYM(xkb_level_index_t, xkb_state_key_get_level, (struct xkb_state *,
 #endif
 
 #if SDL_XKBCOMMON_CHECK_VERSION(1, 10, 0)
-SDL_WAYLAND_SYM(xkb_mod_mask_t, xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask, (struct xkb_keymap *, const char *))
+// Optional, as the libxkbcommon loaded at runtime may be older than the headers.
+SDL_WAYLAND_SYM_OPT(xkb_mod_mask_t, xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask, (struct xkb_keymap *, const char *))
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBDECOR_H
diff --git a/test/testautomation_fizzy.h b/test/testautomation_fizzy.h
index bd8bb86fe0e0a..6f9d7c696e432 100644
--- a/test/testautomation_fizzy.h
+++ b/test/testautomation_fizzy.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 /* Test collections */
 extern SDLTest_TestSuiteReference fizzyGPUTestSuite;
+extern SDLTest_TestSuiteReference fizzyXkbTestSuite;
 
 /* Comma-separated GPU drivers ("metal,vulkan") a test must find: when one of
  * them is missing the test fails instead of being skipped. Set by testfizzy's
diff --git a/test/testautomation_fizzy_xkb.c b/test/testautomation_fizzy_xkb.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a99226882198a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/testautomation_fizzy_xkb.c
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+/**
+ * Wayland keyboard test suite for fizzy's patches
+ *
+ * "Wayland: xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask() is optional at runtime": libxkbcommon is
+ * loaded at runtime, but a build against libxkbcommon 1.10 or newer required
+ * xkb_keymap_mod_get_mask() (new in 1.10), so the whole Wayland driver failed
+ * to load where the system's libxkbcommon is older (Ubuntu 24.04 has 1.6).
+ *
+ * xkb_waylandDriverLoads starts the Wayland driver whenever there is a
+ * compositor to connect to (WAYLAND_DISPLAY is set). xkb_keymapModifierLevels
+ * checks the modifier masks the keymap handler computed, through the SDL keymap
+ * they built: each level of a key is entered under the SDL modifiers its xkb
+ * modifier mask translates to, so a wrong mask drops or misfiles the level. It
+ * needs a compositor with a keyboard and the layout named by the
+ * FIZZY_TEST_XKB_LAYOUT environment variable; only "de" is known, and without
+ * the variable the test is skipped.
+ */
+#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
+#include <SDL3/SDL_test.h>
+#include "testautomation_fizzy.h"
+
+/* Private helpers */
+
+static bool VideoDriverIsCompiled(const char *name)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < SDL_GetNumVideoDrivers(); ++i) {
+        if (SDL_strcmp(SDL_GetVideoDriver(i), name) == 0) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+/* How many times the runner had initialized the video subsystem, and with
+ * which driver hint */
+static int videoRefCount = 0;
+static char *videoDriverHint = NULL;
+
+/**
+ * Restarts the video subsystem with the Wayland driver. The runner initializes
+ * video more than once, so it is quit until it is down. The hint overrides
+ * SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER from the environment, which the runner may have started
+ * with another driver.
+ */
+static bool StartWaylandVideo(void)
+{
+    bool result;
+
+    SDL_free(videoDriverHint);
+    videoDriverHint = SDL_GetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER) ? SDL_strdup(SDL_GetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER)) : NULL;
+    videoRefCount = 0;
+    while (SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) && videoRefCount < 255) {
+        SDL_QuitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+        ++videoRefCount;
+    }
+    SDL_SetHintWithPriority(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER, "wayland", SDL_HINT_OVERRIDE);
+    result = SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+    SDLTest_AssertPass("Call to SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) with the 'wayland' driver");
+    SDLTest_AssertCheck(result, "Validate that the Wayland video driver started, got error: %s", result ? "none" : SDL_GetError());
+    if (result) {
+        const char *driver = SDL_GetCurrentVideoDriver();
+        SDLTest_AssertCheck(driver && SDL_strcmp(driver, "wayland") == 0, "Validate the current video driver, expected: wayland, got: %s", driver ? driver : "(null)");
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Puts back the video driver the runner started with, as many times over.
+ */
+static void RestoreVideo(void)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    while (SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_VIDEO)) {
+        SDL_QuitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+    }
+    SDL_ResetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER);
+    if (videoDriverHint) {
+        SDL_SetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER, videoDriverHint);
+        SDL_free(videoDriverHint);
+        videoDriverHint = NULL;
+    }
+    for (i = 0; i < videoRefCount; ++i) {
+        if (!SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO)) {
+            SDLTest_LogError("Couldn't restart the video subsystem: %s", SDL_GetError());
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void PumpEventsFor(Uint64 ms)
+{
+    const Uint64 end = SDL_GetTicks() + ms;
+    SDL_Event event;
+
+    while (SDL_GetTicks() < end) {
+        while (SDL_PollEvent(&event)) {
+        }
+        SDL_Delay(10);
+    }
+}
+
+static void CheckKey(SDL_Scancode scancode, SDL_Keymod modstate, SDL_Keycode expected, const char *why)
+{
+    const SDL_Keycode key = SDL_GetKeyFromScancode(scancode, modstate, false);
+
+    SDLTest_AssertCheck(key == expected, "Validate %s with modifiers 0x%.4x (%s), expected: 0x%" SDL_PRIx32 ", got: 0x%" SDL_PRIx32,
+                        SDL_GetScancodeName(scancode), (unsigned int)modstate, why, (Uint32)expected, (Uint32)key);
+}
+
+/* Test case functions */
+
+/**
+ * Starts the Wayland video driver whenever a compositor is there to connect to.
+ */
+static int SDLCALL xkb_waylandDriverLoads(void *arg)
+{
+    if (!VideoDriverIsCompiled("wayland")) {
+        SDLTest_Log("The Wayland video driver isn't compiled in, skipping test");
+        return TEST_SKIPPED;
+    }
+    if (!SDL_getenv("WAYLAND_DISPLAY")) {
+        SDLTest_Log("WAYLAND_DISPLAY isn't set, so there is no compositor to connect to, skipping test");
+        return TEST_SKIPPED;
+    }
+
+    StartWaylandVideo();
+    RestoreVideo();
+    return TEST_COMPLETED;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Checks the keymap the Wayland driver built from the compositor's, for the
+ * levels that depend on the shift, caps lock and level 3 masks.
+ */
+static int SDLCALL xkb_keymapModifierLevels(void *arg)
+{
+    const char *layout = SDL_getenv("FIZZY_TEST_XKB_LAYOUT");
+    SDL_Window *window;
+    Uint64 deadline;
+    SDL_Keymod modstate;
+
+    if (!layout) {
+        SDLTest_Log("FIZZY_TEST_XKB_LAYOUT isn't set, skipping test");
+        return TEST_SKIPPED;
+    }
+    if (SDL_strcmp(layout, "de") != 0) {
+        SDLTest_Log("No expectations for the keyboard layout '%s', skipping test", layout);
+        return TEST_SKIPPED;
+    }
+    if (!VideoDriverIsCompiled("wayland")) {
+        SDLTest_Log("The Wayland video driver isn't compiled in, skipping test");
+        return TEST_SKIPPED;
+    }
+
+    if (!StartWaylandVideo()) {
+        RestoreVideo();
+        return TEST_COMPLETED;
+    }
+
+    window = SDL_CreateWindow("testautomation_fizzy_xkb", 320, 240, 0);
+    SDLTest_AssertPass("Call to SDL_CreateWindow('Title',320,240,0)");
+    SDLTest_AssertCheck(window != NULL, "Validate that returned window is not NULL, got error: %s", window ? "none" : SDL_GetError());
+    if (!window) {
+        RestoreVideo();
+        return TEST_COMPLETED;
+    }
+
+    /* The compositor sends the keymap as soon as the seat's keyboard is bound */
+    deadline = SDL_GetTicks() + 3000;
+    while (!SDL_HasKeyboard() && SDL_GetTicks() < deadline) {
+        PumpEventsFor(10);
+    }
+    SDLTest_AssertCheck(SDL_HasKeyboard(), "Validate that the compositor's seat has a keyboard");
+    PumpEventsFor(250);
+
+    /* Shift (level 2) */
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_Y, SDL_KMOD_NONE, 'z', "the compositor's keymap is in use");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_2, SDL_KMOD_NONE, '2', "level 1");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_2, SDL_KMOD_LSHIFT, '"', "the shift mask");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_3, SDL_KMOD_RSHIFT, 0xa7 /* section sign */, "the shift mask");
+
+    /* Caps lock (level 2 of an alphabetic key only) */
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_Q, SDL_KMOD_CAPS, 'Q', "the caps lock mask");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_2, SDL_KMOD_CAPS, '2', "the caps lock mask");
+
+    /* AltGr (level 3): LevelThree, which the standard keymaps put on Mod5 */
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_Q, SDL_KMOD_MODE, '@', "the level 3 mask");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_E, SDL_KMOD_MODE, 0x20ac /* euro sign */, "the level 3 mask");
+    CheckKey(SDL_SCANCODE_7, SDL_KMOD_MODE, '{', "the level 3 mask");
+
+    /* Nothing is held down. Whether the window has keyboard focus, and so got
+     * the compositor's modifier state, depends on the compositor. */
+    deadline = SDL_GetTicks() + 2000;
+    while (SDL_GetKeyboardFocus() != window && SDL_GetTicks() < deadline) {
+        PumpEventsFor(10);
+    }
+    modstate = SDL_GetModState();
+    SDLTest_Log("Keyboard focus: %s, modifier state: 0x%.4x", SDL_GetKeyboardFocus() == window ? "yes" : "no", (unsigned int)modstate);
+    SDLTest_AssertCheck((modstate & (SDL_KMOD_SHIFT | SDL_KMOD_CTRL | SDL_KMOD_ALT | SDL_KMOD_GUI | SDL_KMOD_MODE | SDL_KMOD_LEVEL5)) == 0,
+                        "Validate that no modifier is held, got modifier state: 0x%.4x", (unsigned int)modstate);
+
+    SDL_DestroyWindow(window);
+    RestoreVideo();
+    return TEST_COMPLETED;
+}
+
+/* ================= Test References ================== */
+
+/* Wayland keyboard test cases */
+static const SDLTest_TestCaseReference xkbTestWaylandDriverLoads = {
+    xkb_waylandDriverLoads, "xkb_waylandDriverLoads", "Starts the Wayland video driver when a compositor is there", TEST_ENABLED
+};
+
+static const SDLTest_TestCaseReference xkbTestKeymapModifierLevels = {
+    xkb_keymapModifierLevels, "xkb_keymapModifierLevels", "Checks the shift, caps lock and level 3 levels of the compositor's keymap", TEST_ENABLED
+};
+
+/* Sequence of Wayland keyboard test cases */
+static const SDLTest_TestCaseReference *xkbTests[] = {
+    &xkbTestWaylandDriverLoads,
+    &xkbTestKeymapModifierLevels,
+    NULL
+};
+
+/* Wayland keyboard test suite (global) */
+SDLTest_TestSuiteReference fizzyXkbTestSuite = {
+    "FizzyXkb",
+    NULL,
+    xkbTests,
+    NULL
+};
diff --git a/test/testfizzy.c b/test/testfizzy.c
index 42eb9bf3d93bd..411711d3f787f 100644
--- a/test/testfizzy.c
+++ b/test/testfizzy.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ static SDLTest_TestSuiteRunner *runner;
 /* All test suites */
 static SDLTest_TestSuiteReference *testSuites[] = {
     &fizzyGPUTestSuite,
+    &fizzyXkbTestSuite,
     NULL
 };