diff --git a/linux/README.md b/linux/README.md
index 7973a57b6..e94faf491 100644
--- a/linux/README.md
+++ b/linux/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@ distribution corresponding packages):
 - Treal support: `libusb` (1.0) and `libudev` are needed by
   the [`hidapi` package](https://pypi.org/project/hidapi/).
 - log / notifications support: `libdbus` is needed.
-- Uinput support: `libxkbcommon` are needed by the [`xkbcommon` package](https://pypi.org/project/xkbcommon)
+- Uinput support: `libxkbcommon` is needed by the [`xkbcommon` package](https://pypi.org/project/xkbcommon)
 
 For the rest of the steps, follow the [developer guide](../doc/developer_guide.md).
diff --git a/plover/gui_qt/config_window.py b/plover/gui_qt/config_window.py
index c24818f75..bc045f276 100644
--- a/plover/gui_qt/config_window.py
+++ b/plover/gui_qt/config_window.py
@@ -410,10 +410,8 @@ def __init__(self, engine):
                                '\n'
                                'This only applies when using Linux/BSD and not using X11.\n'
                                'If you\'re unsure, you probably don\'t need to change it.\n'
-                               'If you need to configure more options about your layout,\n'
-                               'such as setting the variant to a different layout like colemak,\n'
-                               'you can set environment variables starting with XKB_DEFAULT_\n'
-                               'for the RULES, MODEL, VARIANT and OPTIONS')),
+                                'If you use a different layout variant, format it as\n'
+                               '"language:layout", for example "us:colemak"')),
             )),
             # i18n: Widget: “ConfigWindow”.
             (_('Plugins'), (
diff --git a/plover/oslayer/linux/keyboardcontrol_uinput.py b/plover/oslayer/linux/keyboardcontrol_uinput.py
index 071138131..04b0cdcb6 100644
--- a/plover/oslayer/linux/keyboardcontrol_uinput.py
+++ b/plover/oslayer/linux/keyboardcontrol_uinput.py
@@ -173,9 +173,13 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._res = util.find_ecodes_by_regex(r"KEY_.*")
         self._ui = UInput(self._res)
 
-    def _update_layout(self, layout):
-        log.info("Using keyboard layout " + layout + " for keyboard emulation.")
-        symbols = generate_symbols(layout)
+    def _update_layout(self, _layout):
+        log.info("Using keyboard layout " +
+                 _layout + " for keyboard emulation.")
+        _layout_options = _layout.split(":")
+        layout = _layout_options[0]
+        variant = _layout_options[1] if len(_layout_options) > 1 else ""
+        symbols = generate_symbols(layout, variant)
         # Remove symbols not in KEY_TO_KEYCODE
         syms_to_remove = []
         for sym in symbols:
diff --git a/plover/oslayer/linux/xkb_symbols.py b/plover/oslayer/linux/xkb_symbols.py
index 72b863aae..c192c6cd3 100644
--- a/plover/oslayer/linux/xkb_symbols.py
+++ b/plover/oslayer/linux/xkb_symbols.py
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
 
 
 # layout can be "no", "us", "gb", "fr" or any other xkb layout
-def generate_symbols(layout="us"):
+def generate_symbols(layout="us", variant = ""):
     ctx = xkb.Context()
-    keymap = ctx.keymap_new_from_names(layout=layout)
+    keymap = ctx.keymap_new_from_names(layout=layout, variant=variant)
     # The keymaps have to be "translated" to a US layout keyboard for evdev
     keymap_us = ctx.keymap_new_from_names(layout="us")