diff --git a/src/evdev-mt-touchpad.c b/src/evdev-mt-touchpad.c
index 2cf8b567..1636e7a2 100644
--- a/src/evdev-mt-touchpad.c
+++ b/src/evdev-mt-touchpad.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <math.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
+#include <limits.h>
 
 #include "evdev-mt-touchpad.h"
 
@@ -753,9 +754,21 @@ tp_init_palmdetect(struct tp_dispatch *tp,
 {
 	int width;
 
+	/* We don't know how big the touchpad is */
+	if (device->abs.absinfo_x->resolution == 1)
+		return 0;
+
 	width = abs(device->abs.absinfo_x->maximum -
 		    device->abs.absinfo_x->minimum);
 
+	/* Enable palm detection on touchpads >= 80 mm. Anything smaller
+	   probably won't need it, until we find out it does */
+	if (width/device->abs.absinfo_x->resolution < 80) {
+		tp->palm.right_edge = INT_MAX;
+		tp->palm.left_edge = INT_MIN;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	/* palm edges are 5% of the width on each side */
 	tp->palm.right_edge = device->abs.absinfo_x->maximum - width * 0.05;
 	tp->palm.left_edge = device->abs.absinfo_x->minimum + width * 0.05;
diff --git a/test/touchpad.c b/test/touchpad.c
index 1d95399c..c1bdbd53 100644
--- a/test/touchpad.c
+++ b/test/touchpad.c
@@ -1241,11 +1241,24 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_tap_default)
 }
 END_TEST
 
+static int
+touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(struct litest_device *dev)
+{
+	double width, height;
+
+	libinput_device_get_size(dev->libinput_device, &width, &height);
+
+	return width >= 80;
+}
+
 START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_at_edge)
 {
 	struct litest_device *dev = litest_current_device();
 	struct libinput *li = dev->libinput;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	litest_drain_events(li);
 
 	litest_touch_down(dev, 0, 99, 50);
@@ -1265,6 +1278,9 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_at_bottom_corners)
 	struct litest_device *dev = litest_current_device();
 	struct libinput *li = dev->libinput;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	/* Run for non-clickpads only: make sure the bottom corners trigger
 	   palm detection too */
 	litest_drain_events(li);
@@ -1286,6 +1302,9 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_at_top_corners)
 	struct litest_device *dev = litest_current_device();
 	struct libinput *li = dev->libinput;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	/* Run for non-clickpads only: make sure the bottom corners trigger
 	   palm detection too */
 	litest_drain_events(li);
@@ -1307,6 +1326,9 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_palm_stays_palm)
 	struct litest_device *dev = litest_current_device();
 	struct libinput *li = dev->libinput;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	litest_drain_events(li);
 
 	litest_touch_down(dev, 0, 99, 20);
@@ -1323,6 +1345,9 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_palm_becomes_pointer)
 	struct libinput_event *ev;
 	enum libinput_event_type type;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	litest_drain_events(li);
 
 	litest_touch_down(dev, 0, 99, 50);
@@ -1352,6 +1377,9 @@ START_TEST(touchpad_palm_detect_no_palm_moving_into_edges)
 	struct libinput_event *ev;
 	enum libinput_event_type type;
 
+	if (!touchpad_has_palm_detect_size(dev))
+		return;
+
 	/* moving non-palm into the edge does not label it as palm */
 	litest_drain_events(li);