diff --git a/python/gui/qgsmaptool.sip b/python/gui/qgsmaptool.sip
index 892117351c9e..47b658267ed8 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgsmaptool.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgsmaptool.sip
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ class QgsMapTool : QObject
     //! Mouse release event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
     virtual void canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e );
 
+    //! Mouse wheel event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
+    //! Added in version 2.0
+    virtual void wheelEvent( QWheelEvent * e );
+
     //! Key event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
     virtual void keyPressEvent( QKeyEvent* e );
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsmapcanvas.cpp b/src/gui/qgsmapcanvas.cpp
index f8b57764381e..054b5add357e 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsmapcanvas.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qgsmapcanvas.cpp
@@ -1094,6 +1094,11 @@ void QgsMapCanvas::wheelEvent( QWheelEvent *e )
     return;
   }
 
+  if ( mMapTool )
+  {
+    mMapTool->wheelEvent( e );
+  }
+
   if ( QgsApplication::keyboardModifiers() )
   {
     // leave the wheel for map tools if any modifier pressed
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsmaptool.cpp b/src/gui/qgsmaptool.cpp
index 6ca3603d189c..9cc529f75362 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsmaptool.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/qgsmaptool.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ void QgsMapTool::canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent *e )
   Q_UNUSED( e );
 }
 
+void QgsMapTool::wheelEvent( QWheelEvent *e )
+{
+  Q_UNUSED( e );
+}
+
 void QgsMapTool::keyPressEvent( QKeyEvent *e )
 {
   Q_UNUSED( e );
diff --git a/src/gui/qgsmaptool.h b/src/gui/qgsmaptool.h
index 5807d98cc98b..d6c276064183 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgsmaptool.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgsmaptool.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class QgsMapLayer;
 class QgsMapCanvas;
 class QKeyEvent;
 class QMouseEvent;
+class QWheelEvent;
 class QgsPoint;
 class QgsRectangle;
 class QPoint;
@@ -61,6 +62,10 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsMapTool : public QObject
     //! Mouse release event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
     virtual void canvasReleaseEvent( QMouseEvent * e );
 
+    //! Mouse wheel event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
+    //! Added in version 2.0
+    virtual void wheelEvent ( QWheelEvent* e );
+
     //! Key event for overriding. Default implementation does nothing.
     virtual void keyPressEvent( QKeyEvent* e );