diff --git a/lisp/pixel-scroll.el b/lisp/pixel-scroll.el
index aefe3c12dc2..6dba733b9c4 100644
--- a/lisp/pixel-scroll.el
+++ b/lisp/pixel-scroll.el
@@ -761,7 +761,8 @@ It is a vector of the form [ VELOCITY TIME SIGN ]."
     (let ((window (mwheel-event-window event))
           ;; The animations are smoother if the GC threshold is
           ;; reduced for the duration of the animation.
-          (gc-cons-threshold (* gc-cons-threshold 3))
+          (gc-cons-threshold (min most-positive-fixnum
+                                  (* gc-cons-threshold 3)))
           (state nil))
       (when (framep window)
         (setq window (frame-selected-window window)))