diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 5d19227ff..013d30964 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -1145,7 +1145,12 @@ coerce_styles(fbuf* f, const tinfo* ti, uint16_t* curstyle,
 static inline int
 mouse_enable(tinfo* ti, FILE* out){
   if(ti->qterm == TERMINAL_LINUX){
-    return gpm_connect(ti);
+    if(ti->gpmfd >= 0){
+      return 0;
+    }
+    if((ti->gpmfd = gpm_connect(ti)) >= 0){
+      return 0;
+    }
   }
 // Sets the shift-escape option, allowing shift+mouse to override the standard
 // mouse protocol (mainly so copy-and-paste can still be performed).
@@ -1159,6 +1164,10 @@ mouse_enable(tinfo* ti, FILE* out){
 static inline int
 mouse_disable(tinfo* ti, fbuf* f){
   if(ti->qterm == TERMINAL_LINUX){
+    if(ti->gpmfd < 0){
+      return 0;
+    }
+    ti->gpmfd = -1;
     return gpm_close(ti);
   }
   return fbuf_emit(f, "\x1b[?" SET_BTN_EVENT_MOUSE ";"
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.c b/src/lib/termdesc.c
index dc316301f..06f2c7645 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.c
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.c
@@ -673,10 +673,11 @@ int interrogate_terminfo(tinfo* ti, const char* termtype, FILE* out, unsigned ut
     cursor_y = &foolcursor_y;
   }
   *cursor_x = *cursor_y = -1;
-  ti->qterm = TERMINAL_UNKNOWN;
   memset(ti, 0, sizeof(*ti));
+  ti->qterm = TERMINAL_UNKNOWN;
   // we don't need a controlling tty for everything we do; allow a failure here
   ti->ttyfd = get_tty_fd(out);
+  ti->gpmfd = -1;
   size_t tablelen = 0;
   size_t tableused = 0;
   const char* tname = NULL;
diff --git a/src/lib/termdesc.h b/src/lib/termdesc.h
index cfd28384d..2f5de2cac 100644
--- a/src/lib/termdesc.h
+++ b/src/lib/termdesc.h
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ typedef struct tinfo {
   int default_rows; // LINES environment var / lines terminfo / 24
   int default_cols; // COLUMNS environment var / cols terminfo / 80
 
+  int gpmfd;              // connection to GPM daemon
 #ifdef __linux__
   int linux_fb_fd;        // linux framebuffer device fd
   char* linux_fb_dev;     // device corresponding to linux_fb_dev