diff --git a/cmd-set-window-option.c b/cmd-set-window-option.c
index c24f3592..1d90425d 100644
--- a/cmd-set-window-option.c
+++ b/cmd-set-window-option.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ const struct set_option_entry set_window_option_table[] = {
 	{ "mode-bg", SET_OPTION_COLOUR, 0, 0, NULL },
 	{ "mode-fg", SET_OPTION_COLOUR, 0, 0, NULL },
 	{ "mode-keys", SET_OPTION_CHOICE, 0, 0, set_option_mode_keys_list },
+	{ "mode-mouse", SET_OPTION_FLAG, 0, 0, NULL },
 	{ "monitor-activity", SET_OPTION_FLAG, 0, 0, NULL },
 	{ "monitor-content", SET_OPTION_STRING, 0, 0, NULL },
 	{ "remain-on-exit", SET_OPTION_FLAG, 0, 0, NULL },
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 06bc76bd..81a987c7 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -1529,9 +1529,15 @@ Set window modes foreground colour.
 .It Xo Ic mode-keys
 .Op Ic vi | Ic emacs
 .Xc
-Use vi or emacs-style
-key bindings in scroll and copy modes.
+Use vi or emacs-style key bindings in scroll, copy and choice modes.
 Key bindings default to emacs.
+.It Xo Ic mode-mouse
+.Op Ic on | Ic off
+.Xc
+Mouse state in modes. If on,
+.Nm
+will respond to mouse clicks by moving the cursor in copy mode or selecting an
+option in choice mode.
 .It Xo Ic monitor-activity
 .Op Ic on | Ic off
 .Xc
diff --git a/tmux.c b/tmux.c
index 3845022d..dd7b83f5 100644
--- a/tmux.c
+++ b/tmux.c
@@ -378,12 +378,13 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "clock-mode-style", 1);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "force-height", 0);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "force-width", 0);
-	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-attr", GRID_ATTR_REVERSE);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "main-pane-width", 81);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "main-pane-height", 24);
+	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-attr", GRID_ATTR_REVERSE);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-bg", 3);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-fg", 0);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-keys", MODEKEY_EMACS);
+	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "mode-mouse", 1);
 	options_set_number(&global_w_options, "monitor-activity", 0);
 	options_set_string(&global_w_options, "monitor-content", "%s", "");
 	if (flags & IDENTIFY_UTF8)
diff --git a/window-choose.c b/window-choose.c
index e7d847de..b1d9192a 100644
--- a/window-choose.c
+++ b/window-choose.c
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ window_choose_init(struct window_pane *wp)
 	s = &data->screen;
 	screen_init(s, screen_size_x(&wp->base), screen_size_y(&wp->base), 0);
 	s->mode &= ~MODE_CURSOR;
-	s->mode |= MODE_MOUSE;
+	if (options_get_number(&wp->window->options, "mode-mouse"))
+		s->mode |= MODE_MOUSE;
 
 	keys = options_get_number(&wp->window->options, "mode-keys");
 	if (keys == MODEKEY_EMACS)
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index 8ea32126..340c9c75 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ window_copy_init(struct window_pane *wp)
 
 	s = &data->screen;
 	screen_init(s, screen_size_x(&wp->base), screen_size_y(&wp->base), 0);
-	s->mode |= MODE_MOUSE;
+	if (options_get_number(&wp->window->options, "mode-mouse"))
+		s->mode |= MODE_MOUSE;
 
 	keys = options_get_number(&wp->window->options, "mode-keys");
 	if (keys == MODEKEY_EMACS)