diff --git a/src/evdev.c b/src/evdev.c
index 1718491d..d8b61299 100644
--- a/src/evdev.c
+++ b/src/evdev.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 #include "filter.h"
 #include "libinput-private.h"
 
-#define DEFAULT_AXIS_STEP_DISTANCE 10
+#define DEFAULT_WHEEL_CLICK_ANGLE 15
 #define DEFAULT_MIDDLE_BUTTON_SCROLL_TIMEOUT 200
 
 enum evdev_key_type {
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ evdev_process_relative(struct evdev_device *device,
 			time,
 			LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SCROLL_VERTICAL,
 			LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SOURCE_WHEEL,
-			-1 * e->value * DEFAULT_AXIS_STEP_DISTANCE);
+			-1 * e->value * DEFAULT_WHEEL_CLICK_ANGLE);
 		break;
 	case REL_HWHEEL:
 		evdev_flush_pending_event(device, time);
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ evdev_process_relative(struct evdev_device *device,
 			time,
 			LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SCROLL_HORIZONTAL,
 			LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SOURCE_WHEEL,
-			e->value * DEFAULT_AXIS_STEP_DISTANCE);
+			e->value * DEFAULT_WHEEL_CLICK_ANGLE);
 		break;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/libinput.h b/src/libinput.h
index d0518cc6..f605e52b 100644
--- a/src/libinput.h
+++ b/src/libinput.h
@@ -704,10 +704,10 @@ libinput_event_pointer_get_axis_value(struct libinput_event_pointer *event);
  *
  * If the source is @ref LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SOURCE_WHEEL, no terminating
  * event is guaranteed (though it may happen).
- * Scrolling is in discrete steps, a value of 10 representing one click
- * of a typical mouse wheel. Some mice may have differently grained wheels,
- * libinput will adjust the value accordingly. It is up to the caller how to
- * interpret such different step sizes.
+ * Scrolling is in discrete steps, the value is the angle the wheel moved
+ * in degrees. The default is 15 degrees per wheel click, but some mice may
+ * have differently grained wheels. It is up to the caller how to interpret
+ * such different step sizes.
  *
  * If the source is @ref LIBINPUT_POINTER_AXIS_SOURCE_CONTINUOUS, no
  * terminating event is guaranteed (though it may happen).
diff --git a/test/pointer.c b/test/pointer.c
index b9bd3cc8..d12c9f6b 100644
--- a/test/pointer.c
+++ b/test/pointer.c
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ test_wheel_event(struct litest_device *dev, int which, int amount)
 	struct libinput_event_pointer *ptrev;
 
 	/* the current evdev implementation scales the scroll wheel events
-	   up by a factor 10 */
-	const int scroll_step = 10;
+	   up by a factor 15 */
+	const int scroll_step = 15;
 	int expected = amount * scroll_step;
 
 	if (libinput_device_config_scroll_get_natural_scroll_enabled(dev->libinput_device))