diff --git a/xpra/gtk_common/gtk_util.py b/xpra/gtk_common/gtk_util.py
index 11a46696b9..8305bd1bc3 100644
--- a/xpra/gtk_common/gtk_util.py
+++ b/xpra/gtk_common/gtk_util.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 SHOW_ALL_VISUALS = False
 #try to get workarea from GTK:
 GTK_WORKAREA = envbool("XPRA_GTK_WORKAREA", True)
+SMOOTH_SCROLL = envbool("XPRA_SMOOTH_SCROLL", True)
 
 GTK_VERSION_INFO = {}
 def get_gtk_version_info() -> dict:
@@ -199,6 +200,9 @@ def get_default_cursor() -> Gdk.Cursor:
 WINDOW_EVENT_MASK = em.STRUCTURE_MASK | em.KEY_PRESS_MASK | em.KEY_RELEASE_MASK \
         | em.POINTER_MOTION_MASK | em.BUTTON_PRESS_MASK | em.BUTTON_RELEASE_MASK \
         | em.PROPERTY_CHANGE_MASK | em.SCROLL_MASK | em.SMOOTH_SCROLL_MASK
+if SMOOTH_SCROLL:
+    WINDOW_EVENT_MASK |= em.SMOOTH_SCROLL_MASK
+
 del em