diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
index 2be6f59906..9b8d86ea90 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_drag.cc
@@ -725,6 +725,11 @@ RegionMotionDrag::motion (GdkEvent* event, bool first_move)
 	pair<TimeAxisView*, double> const r = _editor->trackview_by_y_position (current_pointer_y ());
 	TimeAxisView* tv = r.first;
 
+	if (!tv && current_pointer_y() < 0) {
+		/* above trackview area, autoscroll hasn't moved us since last time, nothing to do */
+		return;
+	}
+	
 	if (tv && tv->view()) {
 		double layer = r.second;