diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 88c0feaf..0af307ae 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Allow setting general window class on X11 using CLI or config (`window.class.general`)
 - Config option `window.gtk_theme_variant` to set GTK theme variant
 - Completions for `--class` and `-t` (short title)
+- Change the mouse cursor when hovering over the message bar and its close button
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/alacritty_terminal/src/input.rs b/alacritty_terminal/src/input.rs
index b4ea5910..697c439f 100644
--- a/alacritty_terminal/src/input.rs
+++ b/alacritty_terminal/src/input.rs
@@ -412,11 +412,19 @@ impl<'a, A: ActionContext + 'a> Processor<'a, A> {
 
         let cell_changed =
             prev_line != self.ctx.mouse().line || prev_col != self.ctx.mouse().column;
-        let mouse_moved = cell_changed || prev_side != cell_side;
+
+        // If the mouse hasn't changed cells, do nothing
+        if cell_changed || prev_side != cell_side {
+            return;
+        }
 
         // Only report motions when cell changed and mouse is not over the message bar
-        if self.message_at_point(Some(point)).is_some() || !mouse_moved {
+        if let Some(message) = self.message_at_point(Some(point)) {
+            self.update_message_cursor(point, message);
+
             return;
+        } else {
+            self.ctx.terminal_mut().reset_mouse_cursor();
         }
 
         // Don't launch URLs if mouse has moved
@@ -910,6 +918,15 @@ impl<'a, A: ActionContext + 'a> Processor<'a, A> {
         has_binding
     }
 
+    /// Set the cursor depending on where the mouse is on the message bar
+    fn update_message_cursor(&mut self, point: Point, message: Message) {
+        if self.message_close_at_point(point, message) {
+            self.ctx.terminal_mut().set_mouse_cursor(MouseCursor::Hand);
+        } else {
+            self.ctx.terminal_mut().set_mouse_cursor(MouseCursor::Default);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Return the message bar's message if there is some at the specified point
     fn message_at_point(&mut self, point: Option<Point>) -> Option<Message> {
         if let (Some(point), Some(message)) =
@@ -924,16 +941,25 @@ impl<'a, A: ActionContext + 'a> Processor<'a, A> {
         None
     }
 
+    /// Whether the point is over the message bar's close button
+    fn message_close_at_point(&self, point: Point, message: Message) -> bool {
+        let size = self.ctx.size_info();
+        point.col + message_bar::CLOSE_BUTTON_TEXT.len() >= size.cols()
+            && point.line == size.lines() - message.text(&size).len()
+    }
+
     /// Handle clicks on the message bar.
     fn on_message_bar_click(&mut self, button_state: ElementState, point: Point, message: Message) {
         match button_state {
             ElementState::Released => self.copy_selection(),
             ElementState::Pressed => {
-                let size = self.ctx.size_info();
-                if point.col + message_bar::CLOSE_BUTTON_TEXT.len() >= size.cols()
-                    && point.line == size.lines() - message.text(&size).len()
-                {
+                if self.message_close_at_point(point, message) {
                     self.ctx.terminal_mut().message_buffer_mut().pop();
+                    if let Some(message) = self.message_at_point(Some(point)) {
+                        self.update_message_cursor(point, message);
+                    } else {
+                        self.ctx.terminal_mut().reset_mouse_cursor();
+                    }
                 }
 
                 self.ctx.clear_selection();
diff --git a/alacritty_terminal/src/term/mod.rs b/alacritty_terminal/src/term/mod.rs
index c167875b..7de82a8d 100644
--- a/alacritty_terminal/src/term/mod.rs
+++ b/alacritty_terminal/src/term/mod.rs
@@ -1347,7 +1347,7 @@ impl Term {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    pub fn reset_url_highlight(&mut self) {
+    pub fn reset_mouse_cursor(&mut self) {
         let mouse_mode =
             TermMode::MOUSE_MOTION | TermMode::MOUSE_DRAG | TermMode::MOUSE_REPORT_CLICK;
         let mouse_cursor = if self.mode().intersects(mouse_mode) {
@@ -1356,6 +1356,11 @@ impl Term {
             MouseCursor::Text
         };
         self.set_mouse_cursor(mouse_cursor);
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn reset_url_highlight(&mut self) {
+        self.reset_mouse_cursor();
 
         self.grid.url_highlight = None;
         self.dirty = true;
@@ -1404,6 +1409,7 @@ impl ansi::Handler for Term {
     #[inline]
     fn set_mouse_cursor(&mut self, cursor: MouseCursor) {
         self.next_mouse_cursor = Some(cursor);
+        self.dirty = true;
     }
 
     /// A character to be displayed
diff --git a/alacritty_terminal/src/window.rs b/alacritty_terminal/src/window.rs
index d4c673ba..0292cab9 100644
--- a/alacritty_terminal/src/window.rs
+++ b/alacritty_terminal/src/window.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ pub struct Window {
     windowed_context: glutin::WindowedContext<PossiblyCurrent>,
     mouse_visible: bool,
 
+    /// Keep track of the current mouse cursor to avoid unnecessarily changing it
+    current_mouse_cursor: MouseCursor,
+
     /// Whether or not the window is the focused window.
     pub is_focused: bool,
 }
@@ -164,8 +167,13 @@ impl Window {
         // Set OpenGL symbol loader. This call MUST be after window.make_current on windows.
         gl::load_with(|symbol| windowed_context.get_proc_address(symbol) as *const _);
 
-        let window =
-            Window { event_loop, windowed_context, mouse_visible: true, is_focused: false };
+        let window = Window {
+            event_loop,
+            current_mouse_cursor: MouseCursor::Default,
+            windowed_context,
+            mouse_visible: true,
+            is_focused: false,
+        };
 
         window.run_os_extensions();
 
@@ -239,8 +247,11 @@ impl Window {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    pub fn set_mouse_cursor(&self, cursor: MouseCursor) {
-        self.window().set_cursor(cursor);
+    pub fn set_mouse_cursor(&mut self, cursor: MouseCursor) {
+        if cursor != self.current_mouse_cursor {
+            self.current_mouse_cursor = cursor;
+            self.window().set_cursor(cursor);
+        }
     }
 
     /// Set mouse cursor visible