diff --git a/src/gui/sdlmain.cpp b/src/gui/sdlmain.cpp
index db0a828f..b102d040 100644
--- a/src/gui/sdlmain.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/sdlmain.cpp
@@ -1491,14 +1491,32 @@ bool GFX_IsFullscreen(void) {
 	return sdl.desktop.fullscreen;
 }
 
+#if defined(MACOSX)
+#define DB_POLLSKIP 3
+#else
+//Not used yet, see comment below
+#define DB_POLLSKIP 1
+#endif
+
 void GFX_Events() {
+	//Don't poll too often. This can be heavy on the OS, especially Macs.
+	//In idle mode 3000-4000 polls are done per second without this check.
+	//Macs, with this code,  max 250 polls per second. (non-macs unused default max 500)
+	//Currently not implemented for all platforms, given the ALT-TAB stuff for WIN32.
+#if defined (MACOSX)
+	static int last_check = 0;
+	int current_check = GetTicks();
+	if (current_check - last_check <=  DB_POLLSKIP) return;
+	last_check = current_check;
+#endif
+
 	SDL_Event event;
 #if defined (REDUCE_JOYSTICK_POLLING)
-	static int poll_delay=0;
-	int time=GetTicks();
-	if (time-poll_delay>20) {
-		poll_delay=time;
-		if (sdl.num_joysticks>0) SDL_JoystickUpdate();
+	static int poll_delay = 0;
+	int time = GetTicks();
+	if (time - poll_delay > 20) {
+		poll_delay = time;
+		if (sdl.num_joysticks > 0) SDL_JoystickUpdate();
 		MAPPER_UpdateJoysticks();
 	}
 #endif