Seems to be related to mouse detection in the function scan_for_devs (). The if branch starting with " if (test_bit(EV_REL, bit)) { int i; /* our own virtual mouse (on rescans)*/ if (id[ID_PRODUCT] == 0x1E && id[ID_VENDOR] == 0x1F) { close(fd); continue;" is never entered on my 8.1 (discovered this after suitable instrumentation of the code in the function). As a result, no mouse is registered as a virtual device and event_parse doesn't have a chance to detect clicks in connection with pressing of modifier keys as it's intended with this tool. Don't know enough about uinput / event handling in connection with Apple-specific hardware to investigate further. If it helps, here an excerpt of the lsusb command: Bus 001 Device 005: ID 05ac:0253 Apple, Inc. Internal Keyboard/Trackpad (ISO) Device Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 1 bcdUSB 2.00 bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level) bDeviceSubClass 0 bDeviceProtocol 0 bMaxPacketSize0 8 idVendor 0x05ac Apple, Inc. idProduct 0x0253 Internal Keyboard/Trackpad (ISO) bcdDevice 1.18 iManufacturer 1 Apple Inc. iProduct 2 Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad iSerial 0 bNumConfigurations 1 Configuration Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 2 wTotalLength 84 bNumInterfaces 3 bConfigurationValue 1 iConfiguration 0 bmAttributes 0xa0 (Bus Powered) Remote Wakeup MaxPower 40mA Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 0 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device bInterfaceSubClass 1 Boot Interface Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 1 Keyboard iInterface 3 Apple Internal Keyboard HID Device Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 33 bcdHID 1.11 bCountryCode 13 International (ISO) bNumDescriptors 1 bDescriptorType 34 Report wDescriptorLength 156 Report Descriptors: ** UNAVAILABLE ** Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x000a 1x 10 bytes bInterval 8 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device bInterfaceSubClass 0 No Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 0 None iInterface 4 Touchpad HID Device Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 33 bcdHID 1.11 bCountryCode 0 Not supported bNumDescriptors 1 bDescriptorType 34 Report wDescriptorLength 27 Report Descriptors: ** UNAVAILABLE ** Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes bInterval 2 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 2 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device bInterfaceSubClass 1 Boot Interface Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 2 Mouse iInterface 4 Touchpad HID Device Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 33 bcdHID 1.11 bCountryCode 0 Not supported bNumDescriptors 1 bDescriptorType 34 Report wDescriptorLength 52 Report Descriptors: ** UNAVAILABLE ** Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x84 EP 4 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0008 1x 8 bytes bInterval 8 Device Status: 0x0000 (Bus Powered)