diff --git a/common/advanced_config.cpp b/common/advanced_config.cpp
index e1a6cca774..fca3fbda82 100644
--- a/common/advanced_config.cpp
+++ b/common/advanced_config.cpp
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@ static const wxChar TraceMasks[] = wxT( "TraceMasks" );
 
 static const wxChar ShowRepairSchematic[] = wxT( "ShowRepairSchematic" );
 
+static const wxChar ShowEventCounters[] = wxT( "ShowEventCounters" );
+
 } // namespace KEYS
 
 
@@ -285,6 +287,7 @@ ADVANCED_CFG::ADVANCED_CFG()
     m_Skip3DModelFileCache      = false;
     m_Skip3DModelMemoryCache    = false;
     m_HideVersionFromTitle      = false;
+    m_ShowEventCounters         = false;
 
     loadFromConfigFile();
 }
@@ -400,6 +403,9 @@ void ADVANCED_CFG::loadSettings( wxConfigBase& aCfg )
     configParams.push_back( new PARAM_CFG_BOOL( true, AC_KEYS::ShowRepairSchematic,
                                                 &m_ShowRepairSchematic, false ) );
 
+    configParams.push_back( new PARAM_CFG_BOOL( true, AC_KEYS::ShowEventCounters,
+                                                &m_ShowEventCounters, false ) );
+
     // Special case for trace mask setting...we just grab them and set them immediately
     // Because we even use wxLogTrace inside of advanced config
     wxString traceMasks = "";
diff --git a/common/draw_panel_gal.cpp b/common/draw_panel_gal.cpp
index a3495b517c..e7943950a9 100644
--- a/common/draw_panel_gal.cpp
+++ b/common/draw_panel_gal.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL::EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL( wxWindow* aParentWindow, wxWindowID aWin
     m_parent = aParentWindow;
     m_MouseCapturedLost = false;
 
+    m_PaintEventCounter = std::make_unique<PROF_COUNTER>( "Draw panel paint events" );
+
     SetLayoutDirection( wxLayout_LeftToRight );
 
     m_edaFrame = dynamic_cast<EDA_DRAW_FRAME*>( m_parent );
@@ -190,6 +192,8 @@ void EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL::DoRePaint()
     if( m_drawing )
         return;
 
+    ( *m_PaintEventCounter )++;
+
     wxASSERT( m_painter );
 
     m_drawing = true;
diff --git a/common/view/wx_view_controls.cpp b/common/view/wx_view_controls.cpp
index 516a03b2ff..64beed2084 100644
--- a/common/view/wx_view_controls.cpp
+++ b/common/view/wx_view_controls.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <pgm_base.h>
+#include <profile.h>
 #include <view/view.h>
 #include <view/wx_view_controls.h>
 #include <view/zoom_controller.h>
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ WX_VIEW_CONTROLS::WX_VIEW_CONTROLS( VIEW* aView, EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL* aParentPane
 {
     LoadSettings();
 
+    m_MotionEventCounter = std::make_unique<PROF_COUNTER>( "Mouse motion events" );
+
     m_parentPanel->Connect( wxEVT_MOTION,
                             wxMouseEventHandler( WX_VIEW_CONTROLS::onMotion ), nullptr, this );
 #if wxCHECK_VERSION( 3, 1, 0 ) || defined( USE_OSX_MAGNIFY_EVENT )
@@ -192,6 +195,8 @@ void WX_VIEW_CONTROLS::LoadSettings()
 
 void WX_VIEW_CONTROLS::onMotion( wxMouseEvent& aEvent )
 {
+    ( *m_MotionEventCounter )++;
+
     bool isAutoPanning = false;
     int x = aEvent.GetX();
     int y = aEvent.GetY();
diff --git a/include/advanced_config.h b/include/advanced_config.h
index cd8343ab78..ba8e500a18 100644
--- a/include/advanced_config.h
+++ b/include/advanced_config.h
@@ -197,6 +197,11 @@ public:
 
     bool m_ShowRepairSchematic;
 
+    /**
+     * Shows debugging event counters in various places.
+     */
+    bool m_ShowEventCounters;
+
 private:
     ADVANCED_CFG();
 
diff --git a/include/class_draw_panel_gal.h b/include/class_draw_panel_gal.h
index ed4c9e9459..b0d30d9e6d 100644
--- a/include/class_draw_panel_gal.h
+++ b/include/class_draw_panel_gal.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 class BOARD;
 class EDA_DRAW_FRAME;
 class TOOL_DISPATCHER;
+class PROF_COUNTER;
 
 namespace KIGFX
 {
@@ -233,6 +234,8 @@ public:
      */
     bool m_MouseCapturedLost;
 
+    std::unique_ptr<PROF_COUNTER> m_PaintEventCounter;
+
 protected:
     virtual void onPaint( wxPaintEvent& WXUNUSED( aEvent ) );
     void onSize( wxSizeEvent& aEvent );
diff --git a/include/profile.h b/include/profile.h
index 378fb69080..bf6f28c8b4 100644
--- a/include/profile.h
+++ b/include/profile.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #ifndef TPROFILE_H
 #define TPROFILE_H
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <string>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -217,4 +218,46 @@ private:
  */
 unsigned GetRunningMicroSecs();
 
+
+/**
+ * A thread-safe event counter
+ */
+class PROF_COUNTER
+{
+public:
+    PROF_COUNTER( const std::string& aName ) :
+            m_name( aName ),
+            m_count( 0 )
+    {
+    }
+
+    unsigned long long Count() const
+    {
+        return m_count.load();
+    }
+
+    void Reset()
+    {
+        m_count.store( 0 );
+    }
+
+    unsigned long long operator++( int )
+    {
+        return m_count++;
+    }
+
+    void Show( std::ostream& aStream = std::cerr )
+    {
+        if( m_name.size() )
+            aStream << m_name << ": ";
+
+        aStream << m_count.load();
+        aStream << std::endl;
+    }
+
+private:
+    std::string        m_name;
+    std::atomic_ullong m_count;
+};
+
 #endif  // TPROFILE_H
diff --git a/include/view/wx_view_controls.h b/include/view/wx_view_controls.h
index d4c0760762..773258c425 100644
--- a/include/view/wx_view_controls.h
+++ b/include/view/wx_view_controls.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 
 class EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL;
+class PROF_COUNTER;
 
 namespace KIGFX
 {
@@ -115,6 +116,8 @@ public:
     ///< mouse cursor does not move in screen coordinates, but does in world coordinates)
     static const wxEventType EVT_REFRESH_MOUSE;
 
+    std::unique_ptr<PROF_COUNTER> m_MotionEventCounter;
+
 private:
     ///< Possible states for WX_VIEW_CONTROLS.
     enum STATE
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
index e983864cd3..dd64ff3b7a 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@
 #include <widgets/panel_selection_filter.h>
 #include <widgets/wx_aui_utils.h>
 #include <kiplatform/app.h>
+#include <profile.h>
+#include <view/wx_view_controls.h>
 
 #include <action_plugin.h>
 #include "../scripting/python_scripting.h"
@@ -363,6 +365,27 @@ PCB_EDIT_FRAME::PCB_EDIT_FRAME( KIWAY* aKiway, wxWindow* aParent ) :
                    // Ensure the controls on the toolbars all are correctly sized
                     UpdateToolbarControlSizes();
                } );
+
+    if( ADVANCED_CFG::GetCfg().m_ShowEventCounters )
+    {
+        m_eventCounterTimer = new wxTimer( this );
+
+        Bind( wxEVT_TIMER,
+                [&]( wxTimerEvent& aEvent )
+                {
+                    GetCanvas()->m_PaintEventCounter->Show();
+                    GetCanvas()->m_PaintEventCounter->Reset();
+
+                    KIGFX::WX_VIEW_CONTROLS* vc =
+                            static_cast<KIGFX::WX_VIEW_CONTROLS*>( GetCanvas()->GetViewControls() );
+                    vc->m_MotionEventCounter->Show();
+                    vc->m_MotionEventCounter->Reset();
+
+                },
+                m_eventCounterTimer->GetId() );
+
+        m_eventCounterTimer->Start( 1000 );
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.h b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.h
index 96f4bf4d47..d05525ec64 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.h
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_edit_frame.h
@@ -785,6 +785,8 @@ private:
     TOOL_ACTION* m_exportNetlistAction;
 
     DIALOG_FIND* m_findDialog;
+
+    wxTimer* m_eventCounterTimer;
 };
 
 #endif  // __PCB_EDIT_FRAME_H__