diff --git a/libinput/events.cpp b/libinput/events.cpp
index 17efc64253..3f79062f5f 100644
--- a/libinput/events.cpp
+++ b/libinput/events.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Event *Event::create(libinput_event *event)
 Event::Event(libinput_event *event, libinput_event_type type)
     : m_event(event)
     , m_type(type)
-    , m_device(Device::getDevice(libinput_event_get_device(m_event)))
+    , m_device(nullptr)
 {
 }
 
@@ -76,6 +76,14 @@ Event::~Event()
     libinput_event_destroy(m_event);
 }
 
+Device *Event::device() const
+{
+    if (!m_device) {
+        m_device = Device::getDevice(libinput_event_get_device(m_event));
+    }
+    return m_device;
+}
+
 libinput_device *Event::nativeDevice() const
 {
     if (m_device) {
diff --git a/libinput/events.h b/libinput/events.h
index 28d68a6b55..c16fae2dd6 100644
--- a/libinput/events.h
+++ b/libinput/events.h
@@ -37,9 +37,7 @@ public:
     virtual ~Event();
 
     libinput_event_type type() const;
-    Device *device() const {
-        return m_device;
-    }
+    Device *device() const;
     libinput_device *nativeDevice() const;
 
     operator libinput_event*() {
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ protected:
 private:
     libinput_event *m_event;
     libinput_event_type m_type;
-    Device *m_device;
+    mutable Device *m_device;
 };
 
 class KeyEvent : public Event