diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index fad5c67ae..db968c026 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -1612,6 +1612,12 @@ window_pane_key(struct window_pane *wp, struct client *c, struct session *s,
 
 	wme = TAILQ_FIRST(&wp->modes);
 	if (wme != NULL) {
+		/*
+		 * No mode uses mouse motion events, so drop them here rather
+		 * than passing them on and causing a redraw on every movement.
+		 */
+		if (KEYC_IS_TYPE(key, KEYC_TYPE_MOUSEMOVE))
+			return (0);
 		if (wme->mode->key != NULL && c != NULL) {
 			key &= ~KEYC_MASK_FLAGS;
 			wme->mode->key(wme, c, s, wl, key, m);