diff --git a/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.c b/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.c
index 19b0837d..2c2c953e 100644
--- a/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.c
+++ b/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ typedef struct _EekGtkKeyboardPrivate
     struct render_geometry render_geometry; // mutable
 
     EekboardContextService *eekboard_context; // unowned reference
+    struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager; // shared reference
     struct submission *submission; // unowned reference
 
     struct squeek_layout_state *layout; // unowned
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ on_event_triggered (LfbEvent      *event,
                     GAsyncResult  *res,
                     gpointer      unused)
 {
+    (void)unused;
     g_autoptr (GError) err = NULL;
 
     if (!lfb_event_trigger_feedback_finish (event, res, &err)) {
@@ -188,7 +190,7 @@ static void drag(EekGtkKeyboard *self,
     squeek_layout_drag(eekboard_context_service_get_keyboard(priv->eekboard_context)->layout,
                        priv->submission,
                        x, y, priv->render_geometry.widget_to_layout, time,
-                       priv->eekboard_context, self);
+                       priv->eekboard_context, priv->state_manager, self);
 }
 
 static void release(EekGtkKeyboard *self, guint32 time)
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ static void release(EekGtkKeyboard *self, guint32 time)
     }
     squeek_layout_release(eekboard_context_service_get_keyboard(priv->eekboard_context)->layout,
                           priv->submission, priv->render_geometry.widget_to_layout, time,
-                          priv->eekboard_context, self);
+                          priv->eekboard_context, priv->state_manager, self);
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -406,13 +408,14 @@ on_notify_keyboard (GObject              *object,
 GtkWidget *
 eek_gtk_keyboard_new (EekboardContextService *eekservice,
                       struct submission *submission,
-                      struct squeek_layout_state *layout)
+                      struct squeek_layout_state *layout, struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager)
 {
     EekGtkKeyboard *ret = EEK_GTK_KEYBOARD(g_object_new (EEK_TYPE_GTK_KEYBOARD, NULL));
     EekGtkKeyboardPrivate *priv = (EekGtkKeyboardPrivate*)eek_gtk_keyboard_get_instance_private (ret);
     priv->eekboard_context = eekservice;
     priv->submission = submission;
     priv->layout = layout;
+    priv->state_manager = state_manager;
     priv->renderer = NULL;
     // This should really be done on initialization.
     // Before the widget is allocated,
diff --git a/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.h b/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.h
index faccd1fa..57fc9477 100644
--- a/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.h
+++ b/eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include "eek/eek-renderer.h"
 #include "eek/eek-types.h"
+#include "src/main.h"
 
 struct submission;
 struct squeek_layout_state;
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ struct _EekGtkKeyboardClass
     gpointer pdummy[24];
 };
 
-GtkWidget *eek_gtk_keyboard_new       (EekboardContextService *eekservice, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout);
+GtkWidget *eek_gtk_keyboard_new       (EekboardContextService *eekservice, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout, struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager);
 void       eek_gtk_keyboard_emit_feedback (EekGtkKeyboard *self);
 
 G_END_DECLS
diff --git a/src/layout.h b/src/layout.h
index e50eac8f..b238a612 100644
--- a/src/layout.h
+++ b/src/layout.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "eek/eek-gtk-keyboard.h"
 #include "eek/eek-renderer.h"
 #include "eek/eek-types.h"
+#include "src/main.h"
 #include "src/submission.h"
 #include "virtual-keyboard-unstable-v1-client-protocol.h"
 #include "text-input-unstable-v3-client-protocol.h"
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ void squeek_layout_release(struct squeek_layout *layout,
                            struct transformation widget_to_layout,
                            uint32_t timestamp,
                            EekboardContextService *manager,
+                           struct squeek_state_manager *state,
                            EekGtkKeyboard *ui_keyboard);
 void squeek_layout_release_all_only(struct squeek_layout *layout,
                                     struct submission *submission,
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@ void squeek_layout_drag(struct squeek_layout *layout,
                         double x_widget, double y_widget,
                         struct transformation widget_to_layout,
                         uint32_t timestamp, EekboardContextService *manager,
+                        struct squeek_state_manager *state,
                         EekGtkKeyboard *ui_keyboard);
 void squeek_layout_draw_all_changed(struct squeek_layout *layout, EekRenderer* renderer, cairo_t     *cr, struct submission *submission);
 void squeek_draw_layout_base_view(struct squeek_layout *layout, EekRenderer* renderer, cairo_t     *cr);
diff --git a/src/layout.rs b/src/layout.rs
index bb94d4dc..6d0cfa88 100644
--- a/src/layout.rs
+++ b/src/layout.rs
@@ -25,31 +25,37 @@ use std::fmt;
 use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::vec::Vec;
 
-use ::action::Action;
-use ::drawing;
-use ::float_ord::FloatOrd;
-use ::keyboard::KeyState;
-use ::logging;
-use ::manager;
-use ::submission::{ Submission, SubmitData, Timestamp };
-use ::util::find_max_double;
+use crate::action::Action;
+use crate::drawing;
+use crate::event_loop::driver::Threaded as AppState;
+use crate::float_ord::FloatOrd;
+use crate::keyboard::KeyState;
+use crate::logging;
+use crate::manager;
+use crate::popover;
+use crate::receiver;
+use crate::submission::{ Submission, SubmitData, Timestamp };
+use crate::util::find_max_double;
 
-use ::imservice::ContentPurpose;
+use crate::imservice::ContentPurpose;
 
 // Traits
 use std::borrow::Borrow;
-use ::logging::Warn;
+use crate::logging::Warn;
 
 /// Gathers stuff defined in C or called by C
 pub mod c {
     use super::*;
-
-    use gtk_sys;
-    use std::os::raw::c_void;
+    
+    use crate::receiver;
     use crate::submission::c::Submission as CSubmission;
 
+    use gtk_sys;
     use std::ops::{ Add, Sub };
-
+    use std::os::raw::c_void;
+    
+    use crate::util::CloneOwned;
+    
     // The following defined in C
     #[repr(transparent)]
     #[derive(Copy, Clone)]
@@ -216,12 +222,15 @@ pub mod c {
             widget_to_layout: Transformation,
             time: u32,
             manager: manager::c::Manager,
+            app_state: receiver::c::State,
             ui_keyboard: EekGtkKeyboard,
         ) {
             let time = Timestamp(time);
             let layout = unsafe { &mut *layout };
             let submission = submission.clone_ref();
             let mut submission = submission.borrow_mut();
+            let app_state = app_state.clone_owned();
+            
             let ui_backend = UIBackend {
                 widget_to_layout,
                 keyboard: ui_keyboard,
@@ -236,7 +245,7 @@ pub mod c {
                     &mut submission,
                     Some(&ui_backend),
                     time,
-                    Some(manager),
+                    Some((manager, app_state.clone())),
                     key,
                 );
             }
@@ -316,12 +325,14 @@ pub mod c {
             widget_to_layout: Transformation,
             time: u32,
             manager: manager::c::Manager,
+            app_state: receiver::c::State,
             ui_keyboard: EekGtkKeyboard,
         ) {
             let time = Timestamp(time);
             let layout = unsafe { &mut *layout };
             let submission = submission.clone_ref();
             let mut submission = submission.borrow_mut();
+            let app_state = app_state.clone_owned();
             let ui_backend = UIBackend {
                 widget_to_layout,
                 keyboard: ui_keyboard,
@@ -352,7 +363,7 @@ pub mod c {
                             &mut submission,
                             Some(&ui_backend),
                             time,
-                            Some(manager),
+                            Some((manager, app_state.clone())),
                             key,
                         );
                     }
@@ -377,7 +388,7 @@ pub mod c {
                         &mut submission,
                         Some(&ui_backend),
                         time,
-                        Some(manager),
+                        Some((manager, app_state.clone())),
                         key,
                     );
                 }
@@ -1035,7 +1046,11 @@ mod seat {
         submission: &mut Submission,
         ui: Option<&UIBackend>,
         time: Timestamp,
-        manager: Option<manager::c::Manager>,
+        // TODO: intermediate measure:
+        // passing state conditionally because it's only used for popover.
+        // Eventually, it should be used for sumitting button events,
+        // and passed always.
+        manager: Option<(manager::c::Manager, receiver::State)>,
         rckey: &Rc<RefCell<KeyState>>,
     ) {
         let key: KeyState = {
@@ -1070,7 +1085,7 @@ mod seat {
             // only show when UI is present
             Action::ShowPreferences => if let Some(ui) = &ui {
                 // only show when layout manager is available
-                if let Some(manager) = manager {
+                if let Some((manager, app_state)) = manager {
                     let view = layout.get_current_view();
                     let places = ::layout::procedures::find_key_places(
                         view, &rckey,
@@ -1085,10 +1100,11 @@ mod seat {
                             width: button.size.width,
                             height: button.size.height,
                         };
-                        ::popover::show(
+                        popover::show(
                             ui.keyboard,
                             ui.widget_to_layout.reverse_bounds(bounds),
                             manager,
+                            app_state,
                         );
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 38b7944c..65701e17 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ mod manager;
 mod outputs;
 mod panel;
 mod popover;
+mod receiver;
 mod resources;
 mod state;
 mod style;
diff --git a/src/panel.c b/src/panel.c
index 6dfb69c9..bf49f7b2 100644
--- a/src/panel.c
+++ b/src/panel.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ make_widget (struct panel_manager *self)
     if (self->widget) {
         g_error("Widget already present");
     }
-    self->widget = eek_gtk_keyboard_new (self->state, self->submission, self->layout);
+    self->widget = eek_gtk_keyboard_new (self->state, self->submission, self->layout, self->state_manager);
 
     gtk_widget_set_has_tooltip (self->widget, TRUE);
     gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER(self->window), self->widget);
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ panel_manager_resize (struct panel_manager *self, uint32_t height)
 }
 
 
-struct panel_manager panel_manager_new(EekboardContextService *state, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout)
+struct panel_manager panel_manager_new(EekboardContextService *state, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout, struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager)
 {
     struct panel_manager mgr = {
         .state = state,
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ struct panel_manager panel_manager_new(EekboardContextService *state, struct sub
         .window = NULL,
         .widget = NULL,
         .current_output = NULL,
+        .state_manager = state_manager,
     };
     return mgr;
 }
diff --git a/src/panel.h b/src/panel.h
index 5d0ae615..711eda8b 100644
--- a/src/panel.h
+++ b/src/panel.h
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 #include "eek/layersurface.h"
 #include "src/layout.h"
+#include "src/main.h"
 #include "src/submission.h"
 
 // Stores the objects that the panel and its widget will refer to
 struct panel_manager {
     EekboardContextService *state; // unowned
     /// Needed for instantiating the widget
+    struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager; // shared reference
     struct submission *submission; // unowned
     struct squeek_layout_state *layout;
 
@@ -18,4 +20,4 @@ struct panel_manager {
     struct wl_output *current_output;
 };
 
-struct panel_manager panel_manager_new(EekboardContextService *state, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout);
+struct panel_manager panel_manager_new(EekboardContextService *state, struct submission *submission, struct squeek_layout_state *layout, struct squeek_state_manager *state_manager);
diff --git a/src/popover.rs b/src/popover.rs
index 1e9ad259..0344272a 100644
--- a/src/popover.rs
+++ b/src/popover.rs
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ use gio;
 use gtk;
 use std::ffi::CString;
 use std::cmp::Ordering;
-use ::layout::c::{ Bounds, EekGtkKeyboard };
-use ::locale::{ OwnedTranslation, compare_current_locale };
-use ::logging;
-use ::manager;
-use ::resources;
+use crate::layout::c::{ Bounds, EekGtkKeyboard };
+use crate::locale::{ OwnedTranslation, compare_current_locale };
+use crate::logging;
+use crate::manager;
+use crate::receiver;
+use crate::resources;
+use crate::state;
 
 // Traits
 use gio::prelude::ActionMapExt;
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ use gio::prelude::SettingsExt;
 use glib::translate::FromGlibPtrNone;
 use glib::variant::ToVariant;
 use gtk::prelude::*;
-use ::logging::Warn;
+use crate::logging::Warn;
 
 mod c {
     use std::os::raw::c_char;
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ fn set_layout(kind: String, name: String) {
 
 /// A reference to what the user wants to see
 #[derive(PartialEq, Clone, Debug)]
-enum LayoutId {
+pub enum LayoutId {
     /// Affects the layout in system settings
     System {
         kind: String,
@@ -248,6 +250,7 @@ pub fn show(
     window: EekGtkKeyboard,
     position: Bounds,
     manager: manager::c::Manager,
+    app_state: receiver::State,
 ) {
     unsafe { gtk::set_initialized() };
     let window = unsafe { gtk::Widget::from_glib_none(window.0) };
@@ -356,6 +359,12 @@ pub fn show(
                                 .find(
                                     |choices| state == choices.get_name()
                                 ).unwrap();
+                            app_state
+                                .send(state::Event::OverlayChanged(layout.clone()))
+                                .or_print(
+                                    logging::Problem::Bug,
+                                    &format!("Can't send to state"),
+                                );
                             set_visible_layout(
                                 manager,
                                 layout.clone(),
diff --git a/src/receiver.rs b/src/receiver.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..de0e95d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/receiver.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+/*! Defines the application-wide message bus for updating state.*/
+
+use crate::event_loop::driver::Threaded;
+
+pub mod c {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::util::c::Wrapped;
+    pub type State = Wrapped<Threaded>;
+}
+
+// The state receiver is an endpoint of a channel, so it's safely cloneable.
+// There's no need to keep it in a Rc.
+// The C version uses Wrapped with an underlying Rc,
+// because Wrapped is well-tested already.
+pub type State = Threaded;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/server-main.c b/src/server-main.c
index db4f677f..09c2febe 100644
--- a/src/server-main.c
+++ b/src/server-main.c
@@ -450,7 +450,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
     instance.panel_manager = panel_manager_new(instance.settings_context,
         rsobjects.submission,
-        &instance.layout_choice);
+        &instance.layout_choice,
+        rsobjects.state_manager);
 
     register_ui_loop_handler(rsobjects.receiver, &instance.panel_manager, instance.settings_context, instance.dbus_handler);
 
diff --git a/src/state.rs b/src/state.rs
index ed031891..8d20c337 100644
--- a/src/state.rs
+++ b/src/state.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use crate::outputs;
 use crate::outputs::{Millimeter, OutputId, OutputState};
 use crate::panel;
 use crate::panel::PixelSize;
+use crate::popover;
 use crate::util::Rational;
 use std::cmp;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ impl From<String> for LayoutSource {
     }
 }
 
-/// The user's preferred layout
+/// The user's preferred system layout
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct LayoutChoice {
     pub name: String,
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ pub enum Event {
     PhysicalKeyboard(Presence),
     Output(outputs::Event),
     LayoutChoice(LayoutChoice),
+    OverlayChanged(popover::LayoutId),
     Debug(debug::Event),
     /// Event triggered because a moment in time passed.
     /// Use to animate state transitions.
@@ -188,6 +190,8 @@ pub struct Application {
     /// and we might not receive one at all (gsettings missing).
     /// Then a default is used.
     pub layout_choice: LayoutChoice,
+    /// Manual override of the system layout
+    pub overlay_layout: Option<popover::LayoutId>,
 }
 
 impl Application {
@@ -209,6 +213,7 @@ impl Application {
                 name: String::from("us"),
                 source: LayoutSource::Xkb,
             },
+            overlay_layout: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -295,8 +300,14 @@ impl Application {
                 },
             },
             
-            Event::LayoutChoice(choice) => Self {
-                layout_choice: choice,
+            Event::LayoutChoice(layout_choice) => Self {
+                layout_choice,
+                overlay_layout: None,
+                ..self
+            },
+            
+            Event::OverlayChanged(overlay_layout) => Self {
+                overlay_layout: Some(overlay_layout),
                 ..self
             },
         };