diff --git a/gdk/mir/gdkmireventsource.c b/gdk/mir/gdkmireventsource.c
index 3fc7ed9bb7..6fe31974fc 100644
--- a/gdk/mir/gdkmireventsource.c
+++ b/gdk/mir/gdkmireventsource.c
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ handle_motion_event (GdkWindow *window, const MirInputEvent *event)
           hscroll = mir_pointer_event_axis_value (pointer_event, mir_pointer_axis_hscroll);
           vscroll = mir_pointer_event_axis_value (pointer_event, mir_pointer_axis_vscroll);
 
-          if (hscroll > 0.5 || vscroll > 0.5)
+          if (ABS (hscroll) > 0.5 || ABS (vscroll) > 0.5)
             generate_scroll_event (window, x, y, hscroll, vscroll, modifier_state, event_time);
           if (ABS (new_x - x) > 0.5 || ABS (new_y - y) > 0.5)
             {