diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index d345379..fd3dc1f 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ static unsigned int defaultattr = 11;
  */
 static uint forcemousemod = ShiftMask;
 
+/*
+ * The number of lines to scroll by when using the mouse wheel.
+ */
+const unsigned int mousescrollrate = 1;
+
 /*
  * Xresources preferences to load at startup
  */
@@ -212,8 +217,8 @@ ResourcePref resources[] = {
  */
 static MouseShortcut mshortcuts[] = {
 	/* mask                 button   function        argument       release */
-	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, kscrollup,      {.i = 1},		0, /* !alt */ -1 },
-	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button5, kscrolldown,    {.i = 1},		0, /* !alt */ -1 },
+        { XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, kscrollup,      {.i = mousescrollrate}, 0, /* !alt */ -1 },
+	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button5, kscrolldown,    {.i = mousescrollrate}, 0, /* !alt */ -1 },
 	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button2, selpaste,       {.i = 0},      1 },
 	{ ShiftMask,            Button4, ttysend,        {.s = "\033[5;2~"} },
 	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, ttysend,        {.s = "\031"} },
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 79d081d..927abd9 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ static unsigned int defaultattr = 11;
  */
 static uint forcemousemod = ShiftMask;
 
+/*
+ * The number of lines to scroll by when using the mouse wheel.
+ */
+const unsigned int mousescrollrate = 5;
+
 /*
  * Xresources preferences to load at startup
  */
@@ -212,8 +217,8 @@ ResourcePref resources[] = {
  */
 static MouseShortcut mshortcuts[] = {
 	/* mask                 button   function        argument       release */
-	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, kscrollup,      {.i = 1},		0, /* !alt */ -1 },
-	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button5, kscrolldown,    {.i = 1},		0, /* !alt */ -1 },
+        { XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, kscrollup,      {.i = mousescrollrate}, 0, /* !alt */ -1 },
+	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button5, kscrolldown,    {.i = mousescrollrate}, 0, /* !alt */ -1 },
 	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button2, selpaste,       {.i = 0},      1 },
 	{ ShiftMask,            Button4, ttysend,        {.s = "\033[5;2~"} },
 	{ XK_ANY_MOD,           Button4, ttysend,        {.s = "\031"} },