diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index 25ce538..8ade6ea 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -36,3 +36,6 @@ static const int blurRadius=5;
 //#define PIXELATION
 /*Set pixelation radius*/
 static const int pixelSize=0;
+
+/* time in seconds before the monitor shuts down */
+static const int monitortime = 5;
diff --git a/slock.c b/slock.c
index 5ba6c2c..07715d8 100644
--- a/slock.c
+++ b/slock.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #ifdef XINERAMA
 #include <X11/extensions/Xinerama.h>
 #endif
+#include <X11/extensions/dpms.h>
 #include <X11/keysym.h>
 #include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include <X11/Xutil.h>
@@ -392,6 +393,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	const char *hash;
 	Display *dpy;
 	int s, nlocks, nscreens;
+	CARD16 standby, suspend, off;
 
 	ARGBEGIN {
 	case 'v':
@@ -506,6 +508,20 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	if (nlocks != nscreens)
 		return 1;
 
+	/* DPMS magic to disable the monitor */
+	if (!DPMSCapable(dpy))
+		die("slock: DPMSCapable failed\n");
+	if (!DPMSEnable(dpy))
+		die("slock: DPMSEnable failed\n");
+	if (!DPMSGetTimeouts(dpy, &standby, &suspend, &off))
+		die("slock: DPMSGetTimeouts failed\n");
+	if (!standby || !suspend || !off)
+		die("slock: at least one DPMS variable is zero\n");
+	if (!DPMSSetTimeouts(dpy, monitortime, monitortime, monitortime))
+		die("slock: DPMSSetTimeouts failed\n");
+
+	XSync(dpy, 0);
+
 	/* run post-lock command */
 	if (argc > 0) {
 		switch (fork()) {
@@ -523,6 +539,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	/* everything is now blank. Wait for the correct password */
 	readpw(dpy, &rr, locks, nscreens, hash);
 
+	/* reset DPMS values to inital ones */
+	DPMSSetTimeouts(dpy, standby, suspend, off);
+	XSync(dpy, 0);
+
 	for (nlocks = 0, s = 0; s < nscreens; s++) {
 		XFreePixmap(dpy, locks[s]->drawable);
 		XFreeGC(dpy, locks[s]->gc);
@@ -530,5 +550,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
 	XSync(dpy, 0);
 	XCloseDisplay(dpy);
+
 	return 0;
 }