diff --git a/session/src/xmd b/session/src/xmd
index 6989931..2722045 100755
--- a/session/src/xmd
+++ b/session/src/xmd
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+# basic Xmd environment variables
 export XMD_SESSION_PID="$$"
-
 export XMD_USERDIR="${HOME}/.Xmd"
 mkdir -p "${XMD_USERDIR}"
 
+# environment vars that X applications tend to expect
+export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=Xmd
+export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=Xmd
+export XDG_SESSION_TYPE=X11
+
+# replicant path
 export XMD_REPLICANT_PATH="/usr/lib/Xmd/replicants:/usr/local/lib/Xmd/replicants"
 localReplicantDir="$HOME/.local/lib/Xmd/replicants"
 if [ -d "$localReplicantDir" ]; then
 	export XMD_REPLICANT_PATH="$localReplicantDir:$XMD_REPLICANT_PATH"
 fi
 
+# load desktop configuration
 xmd-load-xresources
 appDefaults="${XMD_USERDIR}/app-defaults"
 if [ -d "$appDefaults" ]; then
@@ -20,6 +27,7 @@ else
 fi
 xmd-load-wallpaper
 
+# run startup items
 startupDir="$XMD_USERDIR/startup"
 if [ -d "$startupDir" ]; then
 	export XMD_STARTUPDIR="$startupDir"