diff --git a/dotool.go b/dotool.go
index 08428f5..53626cf 100644
--- a/dotool.go
+++ b/dotool.go
@@ -221,25 +221,29 @@ func cutWord(s, word string) (string, bool) {
 func main() {
 	var keymap *xkb.Keymap
 	{
-		names := xkb.RuleNames{
-			Rules: "",
-			Model: "",
-			Layout: os.Getenv("DOTOOL_XKB_LAYOUT"),
-			Variant: os.Getenv("DOTOOL_XKB_VARIANT"),
-			Options: "",
+		layout := os.Getenv("DOTOOL_XKB_LAYOUT")
+		if layout == "" {
+			layout = os.Getenv("XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT")
 		}
+		variant := os.Getenv("DOTOOL_XKB_VARIANT")
+		if variant == "" {
+			variant = os.Getenv("XKB_DEFAULT_VARIANT")
+		}
+		if variant != "" && layout == "" {
+			// Otherwise xkbcommon just ignores the variant.
+			fatal("you need to set $DOTOOL_XKB_LAYOUT or $XKB_DEFAULT_LAYOUT if the variant is set")
+		}
+		names := xkb.RuleNames{Layout: layout, Variant: variant}
 
 		ctx := xkb.ContextNew(xkb.ContextNoFlags)
 		defer ctx.Unref()
-
 		keymap = ctx.KeymapNewFromNames(&names, xkb.KeymapCompileNoFlags)
-		defer keymap.Unref()
-
 		if keymap == nil {
 			fatal("failed to compile keymap")
 		}
+		defer keymap.Unref()
 
-		initKeys(keymap, names != xkb.RuleNames{})
+		initKeys(keymap)
 	}
 
 	{
diff --git a/keys.go b/keys.go
index 7187627..4410a4f 100644
--- a/keys.go
+++ b/keys.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ var LinuxKeys = map[string]Chord{
 	"ro": Chord{Key: uinput.KeyRo},
 	"zenkakuhankaku": Chord{Key: uinput.KeyZenkakuhankaku},
 
+	// Potentially overwritten by initKeys()
 	"esc": Chord{Key: uinput.KeyEsc},
 	"1": Chord{Key: uinput.Key1},
 	"2": Chord{Key: uinput.Key2},
@@ -495,18 +496,16 @@ func newChord(keymap *xkb.Keymap, mask, code uint32) Chord{
 	}
 }
 
-func initKeys(keymap *xkb.Keymap, linux bool) {
+func initKeys(keymap *xkb.Keymap) {
 	maxCode := keymap.MaxKeycode()
 	for code := keymap.MinKeycode(); code <= maxCode && code < 256; code++ {
 		numLevels := keymap.NumLevelsForKey(code, 0)
 		for level := uint32(0); level < numLevels; level++ {
 			for _, sym := range keymap.KeyGetSymsByLevel(code, 0, level) {
 				chord := newChord(keymap, keymap.KeyGetMod(code, 0, level), code)
-				if linux {
-					for name, s := range linuxXSyms {
-						if s == sym {
-							LinuxKeys[name] = chord
-						}
+				for name, s := range linuxXSyms {
+					if s == sym {
+						LinuxKeys[name] = chord
 					}
 				}
 				XKeys[xkb.KeysymGetName(sym)] = chord