diff --git a/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp b/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
index 7bc79e56d8..b68c4fdacd 100644
--- a/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/GLCanvas.cpp
@@ -11,18 +11,26 @@
 #include "GLCanvas.h"
 #include <QMimeData>
 #include <QUrl>
+#include <QMainWindow>
 
-GLCanvas::GLCanvas() : QGLWidget(QGLFormat(QGL::NoDepthBuffer, QGL::NoStencilBuffer)) {
+GLCanvas::GLCanvas() : QGLWidget(QGLFormat(QGL::NoDepthBuffer, QGL::NoStencilBuffer)),
+    _throttleRendering(false),
+    _idleRenderInterval(100)
+{
 }
 
 void GLCanvas::initializeGL() {
     Application::getInstance()->initializeGL();
     setAttribute(Qt::WA_AcceptTouchEvents);
     setAcceptDrops(true);
+    connect(Application::getInstance(), SIGNAL(applicationStateChanged(Qt::ApplicationState)), this, SLOT(activeChanged(Qt::ApplicationState)));
+    connect(&_frameTimer, SIGNAL(timeout()), this, SLOT(throttleRender()));
 }
 
 void GLCanvas::paintGL() {
-    Application::getInstance()->paintGL();
+    if (!_throttleRendering && !Application::getInstance()->getWindow()->isMinimized()) {
+        Application::getInstance()->paintGL();
+    }
 }
 
 void GLCanvas::resizeGL(int width, int height) {
@@ -49,6 +57,38 @@ void GLCanvas::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent* event) {
     Application::getInstance()->mouseReleaseEvent(event);
 }
 
+void GLCanvas::activeChanged(Qt::ApplicationState state) {
+    switch (state) {
+        case Qt::ApplicationActive:
+            // If we're active, stop the frame timer and the throttle.
+            _frameTimer.stop();
+            _throttleRendering = false;
+            break;
+            
+        case Qt::ApplicationSuspended:
+        case Qt::ApplicationHidden:
+            // If we're hidden or are about to suspend, don't render anything.
+            _throttleRendering = false;
+            _frameTimer.stop();
+            break;
+            
+        default:
+            // Otherwise, throttle.
+            if (!_throttleRendering) {
+                _frameTimer.start(_idleRenderInterval);
+                _throttleRendering = true;
+            }
+            break;
+    }
+}
+
+void GLCanvas::throttleRender() {
+    _frameTimer.start(_idleRenderInterval);
+    if (!Application::getInstance()->getWindow()->isMinimized()) {
+        Application::getInstance()->paintGL();
+    }
+}
+
 int updateTime = 0;
 bool GLCanvas::event(QEvent* event) {
     switch (event->type()) {
diff --git a/interface/src/GLCanvas.h b/interface/src/GLCanvas.h
index 0f0cb5c7d0..e6dcc38977 100644
--- a/interface/src/GLCanvas.h
+++ b/interface/src/GLCanvas.h
@@ -10,13 +10,19 @@
 #define __hifi__GLCanvas__
 
 #include <QGLWidget>
+#include <QTimer>
 
 /// customized canvas that simply forwards requests/events to the singleton application
 class GLCanvas : public QGLWidget {
+    Q_OBJECT
 public:
     GLCanvas();
 protected:
     
+    QTimer _frameTimer;
+    bool _throttleRendering;
+    int _idleRenderInterval;
+    
     virtual void initializeGL();
     virtual void paintGL();
     virtual void resizeGL(int width, int height);
@@ -34,6 +40,10 @@ protected:
 
     virtual void dragEnterEvent(QDragEnterEvent *event);
     virtual void dropEvent(QDropEvent* event);
+        
+private slots:
+    void activeChanged(Qt::ApplicationState state);
+    void throttleRender();
 };
 
 #endif /* defined(__hifi__GLCanvas__) */