diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
index c248c20913..93564e3313 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.cc
@@ -288,6 +288,8 @@ Editor::Editor ()
 	verbose_cursor_on = true;
 	route_removal = false;
 	show_automatic_regions_in_region_list = true;
+	last_item_entered = 0;
+	last_item_entered_n = 0;
 
 	region_list_sort_type = (Editing::RegionListSortType) 0;
 	have_pending_keyboard_selection = false;
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
index 1a78921dff..4ea5ec0cc6 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor.h
@@ -1274,6 +1274,14 @@ class Editor : public PublicEditor
 	bool canvas_fade_in_handle_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, AudioRegionView*);
 	bool canvas_fade_out_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, AudioRegionView*);
 	bool canvas_fade_out_handle_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, AudioRegionView*);
+	
+
+	// These variables are used to detect a feedback loop and break it to avoid a gui hang
+private:
+	ArdourCanvas::Item *last_item_entered;
+	int last_item_entered_n;
+public:
+
 	bool canvas_region_view_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, RegionView*);
 	bool canvas_region_view_name_highlight_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, RegionView*);
 	bool canvas_region_view_name_event (GdkEvent* event,ArdourCanvas::Item*, RegionView*);
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
index a357a2d1ed..a7dd976266 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/editor_mouse.cc
@@ -1141,6 +1141,11 @@ Editor::enter_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemType item_
 	Marker * marker;
 	double fraction;
 	
+	if (last_item_entered != item) {
+		last_item_entered = item;
+		last_item_entered_n = 0;
+	}
+
 	switch (item_type) {
 	case GainControlPointItem:
 		if (mouse_mode == MouseGain) {
@@ -1156,12 +1161,15 @@ Editor::enter_handler (ArdourCanvas::Item* item, GdkEvent* event, ItemType item_
 
 			fraction = 1.0 - (cp->get_y() / cp->line.height());
 
-			set_verbose_canvas_cursor (cp->line.get_verbose_cursor_string (fraction), at_x, at_y);
-			show_verbose_canvas_cursor ();
-
 			if (is_drawable() && !_scrubbing) {
 			        track_canvas.get_window()->set_cursor (*fader_cursor);
 			}
+
+			last_item_entered_n++;
+			set_verbose_canvas_cursor (cp->line.get_verbose_cursor_string (fraction), at_x, at_y);
+			if (last_item_entered_n < 10) {
+				show_verbose_canvas_cursor ();
+			}
 		}
 		break;