diff --git a/unix/gtkwin.c b/unix/gtkwin.c
index 314db770..b058db27 100644
--- a/unix/gtkwin.c
+++ b/unix/gtkwin.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ struct clipboard_state {
 struct gui_data {
     GtkWidget *window, *area, *sbar;
     gboolean sbar_visible;
+    gboolean area_configured;
     GtkBox *hbox;
     GtkAdjustment *sbar_adjust;
     GtkWidget *menu, *specialsmenu, *specialsitem1, *specialsitem2,
@@ -645,6 +646,16 @@ gint configure_area(GtkWidget *widget, GdkEventConfigure *event, gpointer data)
 	need_size = 1;
     }
 
+    /*
+     * If the terminal size hasn't changed since the previous call to
+     * this function (in particular, if there has at least _been_ a
+     * previous call to this function), then, we can assume this event
+     * is spurious and do nothing further.
+     */
+    if (!need_size && inst->area_configured)
+        return TRUE;
+    inst->area_configured = TRUE;
+
     {
         int backing_w = w * inst->font_width + 2*inst->window_border;
         int backing_h = h * inst->font_height + 2*inst->window_border;