diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
index 80cb0374f5..fa19ab05c7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/ui.py
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ class EbookViewer(MainWindow):
         self.highlights_widget.web_action.connect(self.web_view.generic_action)
         if continue_reading:
             self.continue_reading()
+        self.setup_mouse_auto_hide()
 
     def shortcuts_changed(self, smap):
         rmap = defaultdict(list)
@@ -675,3 +676,26 @@ class EbookViewer(MainWindow):
         self.shutdown_done = True
         return MainWindow.closeEvent(self, ev)
     # }}}
+
+    # Auto-hide mouse cursor  {{{
+    def setup_mouse_auto_hide(self):
+        QApplication.instance().installEventFilter(self)
+        self.cursor_hidden = False
+        self.hide_cursor_timer = t = QTimer(self)
+        t.setSingleShot(True), t.setInterval(3000)
+        t.timeout.connect(self.hide_cursor)
+        t.start()
+
+    def eventFilter(self, obj, ev):
+        if ev.type() == ev.MouseMove:
+            if self.cursor_hidden:
+                self.cursor_hidden = False
+                QApplication.instance().restoreOverrideCursor()
+            self.hide_cursor_timer.start()
+        return False
+
+    def hide_cursor(self):
+        if get_session_pref('auto_hide_mouse', True):
+            self.cursor_hidden = True
+            QApplication.instance().setOverrideCursor(Qt.BlankCursor)
+    # }}}
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/misc.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/misc.pyj
index 3dda433e39..c547ec1ad1 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/misc.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/prefs/misc.pyj
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ DEFAULTS = {
     'save_annotations_in_ebook': True,
     'sync_annots_user': '',
     'singleinstance': False,
+    'auto_hide_mouse': True,
 }
 
 
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ def create_misc_panel(container, apply_func, cancel_func):
     container.append(sync_annots)
     container.append(cb('singleinstance', _('Allow only a single instance of the viewer (needs restart)')))
     container.append(cb('hide_tooltips', _('Hide mouse-over tooltips in the book text')))
+    container.append(cb('auto_hide_mouse', _('Auto hide the mouse cursor when unused for a few seconds')))
 
     container.appendChild(create_button_box(restore_defaults, apply_func, cancel_func))