diff --git a/interface/wx/utils.h b/interface/wx/utils.h
index 0bac1c07a0..f127a74084 100644
--- a/interface/wx/utils.h
+++ b/interface/wx/utils.h
@@ -372,6 +372,9 @@ wxString wxGetDisplayName();
     Even though there are virtual key codes defined for mouse buttons, they
     cannot be used with this function currently.
 
+    In wxGTK, this function can be only used with modifier keys (@c WXK_ALT, @c
+    WXK_CONTROL and @c WXK_SHIFT) when not using X11 backend currently.
+
     @header{wx/utils.h}
 */
 bool wxGetKeyState(wxKeyCode key);
diff --git a/src/unix/utilsx11.cpp b/src/unix/utilsx11.cpp
index 6b35551647..efc0837431 100644
--- a/src/unix/utilsx11.cpp
+++ b/src/unix/utilsx11.cpp
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ WXKeySym wxCharCodeWXToX(int id)
 // check current state of a key
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-bool wxGetKeyState(wxKeyCode key)
+static bool wxGetKeyStateX11(wxKeyCode key)
 {
     wxASSERT_MSG(key != WXK_LBUTTON && key != WXK_RBUTTON && key !=
         WXK_MBUTTON, wxT("can't use wxGetKeyState() for mouse buttons"));
@@ -851,11 +851,69 @@ bool wxGetKeyState(wxKeyCode key)
     // with the least-significant bit in the byte representing key 8N.
     char key_vector[32];
     XQueryKeymap(pDisplay, key_vector);
-    return key_vector[keyCode >> 3] & (1 << (keyCode & 7));
+    return (key_vector[keyCode >> 3] & (1 << (keyCode & 7))) != 0;
 }
 
 #endif // !defined(__WXGTK__) || defined(GDK_WINDOWING_X11)
 
+// We need to use GDK functions when using wxGTK with a non-X11 backend, the
+// X11 code above can't work in this case.
+#ifdef __WXGTK__
+
+// gdk_keymap_get_modifier_state() is only available since 3.4
+#if GTK_CHECK_VERSION(3,4,0)
+
+#define wxHAS_GETKEYSTATE_GTK
+
+extern GtkWidget *wxGetRootWindow();
+
+static bool wxGetKeyStateGTK(wxKeyCode key)
+{
+    if (gtk_check_version(3,4,0) != NULL)
+        return false;
+
+    GdkDisplay* display = gtk_widget_get_display(wxGetRootWindow());
+    GdkKeymap* keymap = gdk_keymap_get_for_display(display);
+    guint state = gdk_keymap_get_modifier_state(keymap);
+    guint mask = 0;
+    switch (key)
+    {
+        case WXK_ALT:
+            mask = GDK_MOD1_MASK;
+            break;
+
+        case WXK_CONTROL:
+            mask = GDK_CONTROL_MASK;
+            break;
+
+        case WXK_SHIFT:
+            mask = GDK_SHIFT_MASK;
+            break;
+
+        default:
+            wxFAIL_MSG(wxS("Unsupported key, only modifiers can be used"));
+            return false;
+    }
+    return (state & mask) != 0;
+}
+
+#endif // GTK+ 3.4
+#endif // __WXGTK__
+
+bool wxGetKeyState(wxKeyCode key)
+{
+#ifdef wxHAS_GETKEYSTATE_GTK
+    GdkDisplay* display = gtk_widget_get_display(wxGetRootWindow());
+    const char* name = g_type_name(G_TYPE_FROM_INSTANCE(display));
+    if (strcmp(name, "GdkX11Display") != 0)
+    {
+        return wxGetKeyStateGTK(key);
+    }
+#endif // GTK+ 3.4+
+
+    return wxGetKeyStateX11(key);
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Launch document with default app
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------