diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/cursor.c b/src/protocols/vnc/cursor.c
index 7a1bc1518..079ddd36f 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/cursor.c
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/cursor.c
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ void guac_vnc_cursor(rfbClient* client, int x, int y, int w, int h, int vnc_bpp)
 
     /* Draw operation is now complete */
     guac_display_layer_close_raw(cursor_layer, context);
+    guac_display_render_thread_notify_modified(vnc_client->render_thread);
 
     /* libvncclient does not free rcMask as it does rcSource */
     if (client->rcMask != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/display.c b/src/protocols/vnc/display.c
index 70b03be8a..8b09f8b6e 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/display.c
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/display.c
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ void guac_vnc_update(rfbClient* client, int x, int y, int w, int h) {
         vnc_client->copy_rect_used = 0;
     }
 
+    guac_display_render_thread_notify_modified(vnc_client->render_thread);
+
 }
 
 void guac_vnc_copyrect(rfbClient* client, int src_x, int src_y, int w, int h, int dest_x, int dest_y) {
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
index cdd21bd63..a87d98f57 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.c
@@ -596,6 +596,8 @@ void* guac_vnc_client_thread(void* data) {
 
     guac_display_end_frame(vnc_client->display);
 
+    vnc_client->render_thread = guac_display_render_thread_create(vnc_client->display);
+
     /* Handle messages from VNC server while client is running */
     while (client->state == GUAC_CLIENT_RUNNING) {
 
@@ -603,37 +605,13 @@ void* guac_vnc_client_thread(void* data) {
         int wait_result = guac_vnc_wait_for_messages(rfb_client, GUAC_VNC_FRAME_START_TIMEOUT);
         if (wait_result > 0) {
 
-            /* Read server messages until frame is built */
-            guac_timestamp frame_start = guac_timestamp_current();
-            do {
-
-                /* Handle any message received */
-                if (!guac_vnc_handle_messages(vnc_client)) {
-                    guac_client_abort(client,
-                            GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_UPSTREAM_ERROR,
-                            "Error handling message from VNC server.");
-                    break;
-                }
-
-                int frame_duration = guac_timestamp_current() - frame_start;
-
-                /* Continue processing messages for up to a reasonable minimum
-                 * framerate without an explicit frame boundary indicating that
-                 * the frame is not yet complete */
-                if (frame_duration > GUAC_VNC_MAX_FRAME_DURATION)
-                    break;
-
-                /* Do not exceed a reasonable maximum framerate without an
-                 * explicit frame boundary terminating the frame early */
-                int allowed_wait = GUAC_VNC_MIN_FRAME_DURATION - frame_duration;
-                if (allowed_wait < 0)
-                    allowed_wait = 0;
-
-                wait_result = guac_vnc_wait_for_messages(rfb_client, allowed_wait);
-
-            } while (wait_result > 0);
-
-            guac_display_end_frame(vnc_client->display);
+            /* Handle any message received */
+            if (!guac_vnc_handle_messages(vnc_client)) {
+                guac_client_abort(client,
+                        GUAC_PROTOCOL_STATUS_UPSTREAM_ERROR,
+                        "Error handling message from VNC server.");
+                break;
+            }
 
         }
 
@@ -643,6 +621,10 @@ void* guac_vnc_client_thread(void* data) {
 
     }
 
+    /* Stop render loop */
+    guac_display_render_thread_destroy(vnc_client->render_thread);
+    vnc_client->render_thread = NULL;
+
     /* Kill client and finish connection */
     guac_client_stop(client);
     guac_client_log(client, GUAC_LOG_INFO, "Internal VNC client disconnected");
diff --git a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.h b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.h
index 7e5676af8..6b83d41d0 100644
--- a/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.h
+++ b/src/protocols/vnc/vnc.h
@@ -113,6 +113,12 @@ typedef struct guac_vnc_client {
      */
     guac_display_layer_raw_context* current_context;
 
+    /**
+     * The current instance of the guac_display render thread. If the thread
+     * has not yet been started, this will be NULL.
+     */
+    guac_display_render_thread* render_thread;
+
     /**
      * Internal clipboard.
      */