diff --git a/server-window.c b/server-window.c
index 969395c8..122ca092 100644
--- a/server-window.c
+++ b/server-window.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include "tmux.h"
 
+int	server_window_backoff(struct window_pane *);
 int	server_window_check_bell(struct session *, struct window *);
 int	server_window_check_activity(struct session *, struct window *);
 int	server_window_check_content(
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ server_window_prepare(void)
 		TAILQ_FOREACH(wp, &w->panes, entry) {	
 			if (wp->fd == -1)
 				continue;
-			events = POLLIN;
+			events = 0;
+			if (!server_window_backoff(wp))
+				events |= POLLIN;
 			if (BUFFER_USED(wp->out) > 0)
 				events |= POLLOUT;
 			server_poll_add(
@@ -61,6 +64,28 @@ server_window_prepare(void)
 	}
 }
 
+/* Check if this window should suspend reading. */
+int
+server_window_backoff(struct window_pane *wp)
+{
+	struct client	*c;
+	u_int		 i;
+
+	if (!window_pane_visible(wp))
+		return (0);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_LENGTH(&clients); i++) {
+		c = ARRAY_ITEM(&clients, i);
+		if (c == NULL || c->session == NULL)
+			continue;
+		if (c->session->curw->window != wp->window)
+			continue;
+		if (BUFFER_USED(c->tty.out) > BACKOFF_THRESHOLD)
+			return (1);
+	}
+	return (0);
+}
+
 /* Process a single window pane event. */
 void
 server_window_callback(int fd, int events, void *data)
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index e270e821..41ace3a8 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -65,6 +65,9 @@ extern char   **environ;
 /* Maximum poll timeout (when attached). */
 #define POLL_TIMEOUT 50
 
+/* Maximum data to buffer for output before suspending reading from panes. */
+#define BACKOFF_THRESHOLD 1024
+
 /*
  * Maximum sizes of strings in message data. Don't forget to bump
  * PROTOCOL_VERSION if any of these change!