diff --git a/staging/xdg-activation/x11-interoperation.rst b/staging/xdg-activation/x11-interoperation.rst
index 5ebdd76426e8873eef663ba9aa7db042c08e35c2..83196e915d3b78fa320c598239186ca31f4420aa 100644
--- a/staging/xdg-activation/x11-interoperation.rst
+++ b/staging/xdg-activation/x11-interoperation.rst
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ Interoperation with X11
 
 The former
 `X11 Startup notification protocol <https://cgit.freedesktop.org/startup-notification/tree/doc/startup-notification.txt>`_
-defines the use of the DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID environment variable to propagate
+defines the use of the ``DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`` environment variable to propagate
 startup sequences ("activation tokens" in this protocol) between launcher and
 launchee.
 
 These startup sequence IDs are defined as a globally unique string with a
-`[unique]_TIME[timestamp]` format, where the ID as a whole is used for startup
+``[unique]_TIME[timestamp]`` format, where the ID as a whole is used for startup
 notification and the timestamp is used for focus requests and focus stealing
 prevention.
 
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ Scenario 1. Wayland client spawns X11 client
 --------------------------------------------
 
 1. Wayland client requests token.
-2. Wayland client spawns X11 client, sets `$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID` in its
+2. Wayland client spawns X11 client, sets ``$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`` in its
    environment with the token string.
 3. X11 client starts.
-4. X11 client sends startup-notification `remove` message with the activation
-   `$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID` content.
+4. X11 client sends startup-notification ``remove`` message with the activation
+   ``$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`` content.
 5. Compositor receives startup notification message, matches ID with
    the common pool.
 6. The startup feedback is finished.
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ Scenario 2. X11 client spawns Wayland client
 --------------------------------------------
 
 1. X11 client builds a "globally unique" ID
-2. X11 client sends startup-notification `new` message with the ID.
+2. X11 client sends startup-notification ``new`` message with the ID.
 3. Compositor receives startup notification message, adds the ID to
    the common pool.
-4. X11 client spawns Wayland client, sets `$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID` in its
+4. X11 client spawns Wayland client, sets ``$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`` in its
    environment.
 5. Wayland client starts.
 6. Wayland client sets the activation token, as received from
-   `$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`.
+   ``$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID``.
 7. Compositor receives the request, matches ID with the common pool
 8. The startup feedback is finished.
 9. Wayland client requests surface activation.
@@ -53,12 +53,12 @@ Scenario 2. X11 client spawns Wayland client
 Caveats
 -------
 
-- For legacy reasons, the usage of `$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID` (even if as a
+- For legacy reasons, the usage of ``$DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID`` (even if as a
   fallback) should be observed in compositors and clients that are
   concerned with X11 interoperation.
 
 - Depending on the X11 startup-notification implementation in use by the
-  compositor, the usage of the `_TIME[timestamp]` suffix may be mandatory
+  compositor, the usage of the ``_TIME[timestamp]`` suffix may be mandatory
   for its correct behavior in the first scenario, the startup-notification
   reference library is one such implementation. Compositors may work
   this around by adding a matching suffix to the generated activation tokens.