diff --git a/include/libweston/backend-headless.h b/include/libweston/backend-headless.h
index 5d4f03eb3..ed26d88ad 100644
--- a/include/libweston/backend-headless.h
+++ b/include/libweston/backend-headless.h
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ struct weston_headless_backend_config {
 	/** Use output decorations, requires use_gl = true */
 	bool decorate;
 
-	/** Output repaint refresh rate (in mHz). */
+	/** Output repaint refresh rate (in mHz). Supported values range from 0
+	 * mHz to 1,000,000 mHz. 0 is a special value that triggers repaints
+	 * only on capture requests, not on damages. */
 	int refresh;
 };
 
diff --git a/include/libweston/libweston.h b/include/libweston/libweston.h
index 667b79ea2..423d8a655 100644
--- a/include/libweston/libweston.h
+++ b/include/libweston/libweston.h
@@ -507,6 +507,9 @@ struct weston_output {
 	/** Used only between repaint_begin and repaint_cancel. */
 	bool repainted;
 
+	/** Repaints are triggered only on capture requests, not on damages. */
+	bool repaint_only_on_capture;
+
 	/** State of the repaint loop */
 	enum {
 		REPAINT_NOT_SCHEDULED = 0, /**< idle; no repaint will occur */
diff --git a/libweston/backend-headless/headless.c b/libweston/backend-headless/headless.c
index 2d74eea09..107ef3f5a 100644
--- a/libweston/backend-headless/headless.c
+++ b/libweston/backend-headless/headless.c
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ struct headless_backend {
 	unsigned int formats_count;
 
 	int refresh;
+	bool repaint_only_on_capture;
 };
 
 struct headless_head {
@@ -458,6 +459,7 @@ headless_output_create(struct weston_backend *backend, const char *name)
 	output->base.disable = headless_output_disable;
 	output->base.enable = headless_output_enable;
 	output->base.attach_head = NULL;
+	output->base.repaint_only_on_capture = b->repaint_only_on_capture;
 
 	output->backend = b;
 
@@ -573,11 +575,16 @@ headless_backend_create(struct weston_compositor *compositor,
 	b->formats = pixel_format_get_array(headless_formats, b->formats_count);
 
 	/* Wayland event source's timeout has a granularity of the order of
-	 * milliseconds so the highest supported rate is 1 kHz. */
-	if (config->refresh > 0)
+	 * milliseconds so the highest supported rate is 1 kHz. 0 is a special
+	 * value that enables repaints only on capture. */
+	if (config->refresh > 0) {
 		b->refresh = MIN(config->refresh, 1000000);
-	else
+	} else if (config->refresh == 0) {
+		b->refresh = 1000000;
+		b->repaint_only_on_capture = true;
+	} else {
 		b->refresh = DEFAULT_OUTPUT_REPAINT_REFRESH;
+	}
 
 	if (!compositor->renderer) {
 		switch (config->renderer) {
diff --git a/libweston/compositor.c b/libweston/compositor.c
index 8d8aa778a..af3c79cbc 100644
--- a/libweston/compositor.c
+++ b/libweston/compositor.c
@@ -3673,6 +3673,10 @@ weston_output_maybe_repaint(struct weston_output *output, struct timespec *now)
 	if (output->power_state == WESTON_OUTPUT_POWER_FORCED_OFF)
 		goto err;
 
+	if (output->repaint_only_on_capture &&
+	    !weston_output_has_renderer_capture_tasks(output))
+		goto err;
+
 	/* If repaint fails, we aren't going to get weston_output_finish_frame
 	 * to trigger a new repaint, so drop it from repaint and hope
 	 * something schedules a successful repaint later. As repainting may
@@ -7799,6 +7803,7 @@ weston_output_init(struct weston_output *output,
 	output->desired_protection = WESTON_HDCP_DISABLE;
 	output->allow_protection = true;
 	output->power_state = WESTON_OUTPUT_POWER_NORMAL;
+	output->repaint_only_on_capture = false;
 
 	wl_list_init(&output->head_list);