diff --git a/ui/gtk.c b/ui/gtk.c
index 439c1e949fd90fb28b9aaf83d9c2c78ed48dffd2..d2004a4dc162194d306a81d2d23c897418cd7f9f 100644
--- a/ui/gtk.c
+++ b/ui/gtk.c
@@ -749,10 +749,10 @@ static void gd_resize_event(GtkGLArea *area,
 #endif
 
 /*
- * If available, return the refresh rate of the display in milli-Hertz,
- * else return 0.
+ * If available, return the update interval of the monitor in ms,
+ * else return 0 (the default update interval).
  */
-static int gd_refresh_rate_millihz(GtkWidget *widget)
+static int gd_monitor_update_interval(GtkWidget *widget)
 {
 #ifdef GDK_VERSION_3_22
     GdkWindow *win = gtk_widget_get_window(widget);
@@ -760,8 +760,13 @@ static int gd_refresh_rate_millihz(GtkWidget *widget)
     if (win) {
         GdkDisplay *dpy = gtk_widget_get_display(widget);
         GdkMonitor *monitor = gdk_display_get_monitor_at_window(dpy, win);
+        int refresh_rate = gdk_monitor_get_refresh_rate(monitor); /* [mHz] */
 
-        return gdk_monitor_get_refresh_rate(monitor);
+        if (refresh_rate) {
+            /* T = 1 / f = 1 [s*Hz] / f = 1000*1000 [ms*mHz] / f */
+            return MIN(1000 * 1000 / refresh_rate,
+                       GUI_REFRESH_INTERVAL_DEFAULT);
+        }
     }
 #endif
     return 0;
@@ -774,7 +779,6 @@ static gboolean gd_draw_event(GtkWidget *widget, cairo_t *cr, void *opaque)
     int mx, my;
     int ww, wh;
     int fbw, fbh;
-    int refresh_rate_millihz;
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_OPENGL)
     if (vc->gfx.gls) {
@@ -795,12 +799,8 @@ static gboolean gd_draw_event(GtkWidget *widget, cairo_t *cr, void *opaque)
         return FALSE;
     }
 
-    refresh_rate_millihz = gd_refresh_rate_millihz(vc->window ?
-                                                   vc->window : s->window);
-    if (refresh_rate_millihz) {
-        /* T = 1 / f = 1 [s*Hz] / f = 1000*1000 [ms*mHz] / f */
-        vc->gfx.dcl.update_interval = 1000 * 1000 / refresh_rate_millihz;
-    }
+    vc->gfx.dcl.update_interval =
+        gd_monitor_update_interval(vc->window ? vc->window : s->window);
 
     fbw = surface_width(vc->gfx.ds);
     fbh = surface_height(vc->gfx.ds);