diff --git a/include/gui/DisplayEventReceiver.h b/include/gui/DisplayEventReceiver.h
index dccc1643c..a28137785 100644
--- a/include/gui/DisplayEventReceiver.h
+++ b/include/gui/DisplayEventReceiver.h
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ public:
 public:
     /*
      * DisplayEventReceiver creates and registers an event connection with
-     * SurfaceFlinger. Events start being delivered immediately.
+     * SurfaceFlinger. VSync events are disabled by default. Call setVSyncRate
+     * or requestNextVsync to receive them.
+     * Other events start being delivered immediately.
      */
     DisplayEventReceiver();
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/EventThread.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/EventThread.cpp
index 92d4266a8..af0da0bdb 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/EventThread.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/EventThread.cpp
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ bool EventThread::threadLoop() {
             mLastVSyncTimestamp = timestamp;
 
             // now see if we still need to report this VSYNC event
-            bool reportVsync = false;
-            size_t count = mDisplayEventConnections.size();
+            const size_t count = mDisplayEventConnections.size();
             for (size_t i=0 ; i<count ; i++) {
+                bool reportVsync = false;
                 const ConnectionInfo& info(
                         mDisplayEventConnections.valueAt(i));
                 if (info.count >= 1) {
@@ -174,11 +174,7 @@ bool EventThread::threadLoop() {
                     displayEventConnections.add(mDisplayEventConnections.keyAt(i));
                 }
             }
-
-            if (reportVsync) {
-                break;
-            }
-        } while (true);
+        } while (!displayEventConnections.size());
 
         // dispatch vsync events to listeners...
         vsync.header.type = DisplayEventReceiver::DISPLAY_EVENT_VSYNC;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/vsync/vsync.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/vsync/vsync.cpp
index 4f7908025..b0d54c4e0 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/vsync/vsync.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/vsync/vsync.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     loop->addFd(myDisplayEvent.getFd(), 0, ALOOPER_EVENT_INPUT, receiver,
             &myDisplayEvent);
 
+    myDisplayEvent.setVsyncRate(1);
+
     do {
         //printf("about to poll...\n");
         int32_t ret = loop->pollOnce(-1);