diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/timers.cc b/gtk2_ardour/timers.cc
index 13f2cfdbd7..3469d39df8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/timers.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/timers.cc
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ public:
 		, rapid(100)
 		, super_rapid(40)
 		, fps(40)
+		, _suspend_counter(0)
 	{
 #ifndef NDEBUG
 		second.connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &UITimers::on_second_timer));
@@ -99,6 +100,8 @@ public:
 	StandardTimer   super_rapid;
 	StandardTimer   fps;
 
+	gint            _suspend_counter;
+
 #ifndef NDEBUG
 	std::vector<uint64_t> rapid_eps_count;
 	std::vector<uint64_t> super_rapid_eps_count;
@@ -207,4 +210,22 @@ fps_connect(const sigc::slot<void>& slot)
 	return get_timers().fps.connect (slot);
 }
 
+TimerSuspender::TimerSuspender ()
+{
+	if (g_atomic_int_add(&get_timers()._suspend_counter, 1) == 0) {
+		get_timers().rapid.suspend();
+		get_timers().super_rapid.suspend();
+		get_timers().fps.suspend();
+	}
+}
+
+TimerSuspender::~TimerSuspender ()
+{
+	if (g_atomic_int_dec_and_test (&get_timers()._suspend_counter)) {
+		get_timers().rapid.resume();
+		get_timers().super_rapid.resume();
+		get_timers().fps.resume();
+	}
+}
+
 } // namespace Timers
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/timers.h b/gtk2_ardour/timers.h
index 8854571f5b..28e88e4b4f 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/timers.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/timers.h
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ void set_fps_interval(unsigned int interval);
 
 sigc::connection fps_connect(const sigc::slot<void>& slot);
 
+class TimerSuspender {
+	public:
+		TimerSuspender ();
+		~TimerSuspender ();
+};
+
 };
 
 #endif // TIMERS_H