diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas/autoscroll.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas/autoscroll.rs
index 1f4cd62c5d..5a04d1c193 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas/autoscroll.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/canvas/autoscroll.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ const MAX_DISPLACEMENT: f32 = 1_000_000.0;
 pub(crate) struct AutoScroll {
     anchor: Option<Pos2>,
     organize: bool,
+    /// Consecutive or total frames spent past [`DEAD_ZONE`] while the initiating middle press
+    /// remained held (`>= 2` distinguishes a held scroll from a quick click).
+    held_frames_past_dead_zone: u8,
     /// Own a cancelling click through its release, so it cannot also edit page content.
     cancel_button: Option<PointerButton>,
     block_input: bool,
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ impl AutoScroll {
 
     pub(crate) fn cancel(&mut self) {
         self.anchor = None;
+        self.held_frames_past_dead_zone = 0;
         self.drag = None;
         self.cancel_button = None;
         self.block_input = false;
@@ -59,7 +63,7 @@ impl AutoScroll {
 
     fn update_latched(&mut self, ui: &egui::Ui, viewport: egui::Rect, organize: bool) -> Vec2 {
         let ctx = ui.ctx();
-        let (pointer, middle_press, middle_down, middle_released, cancel, cancel_button, dt) = ctx.input(|i| {
+        let (pointer, middle_press, middle_down, middle_released, has_release_event, cancel, cancel_button, dt) = ctx.input(|i| {
             let cancel_button = [PointerButton::Primary, PointerButton::Secondary, PointerButton::Extra1, PointerButton::Extra2]
                 .into_iter()
                 .find(|button| i.pointer.button_pressed(*button));
@@ -72,6 +76,7 @@ impl AutoScroll {
                 }),
                 i.pointer.button_down(PointerButton::Middle),
                 i.pointer.button_released(PointerButton::Middle),
+                i.events.iter().any(|e| matches!(e, Event::PointerButton { button: PointerButton::Middle, pressed: false, .. })),
                 !i.focused
                     || i.key_pressed(Key::Escape)
                     || cancel_button.is_some()
@@ -80,7 +85,8 @@ impl AutoScroll {
                 i.stable_dt,
             )
         });
-        self.block_input = self.active() || self.cancel_button.is_some() || middle_press.is_some() || middle_down || middle_released;
+        self.block_input =
+            self.active() || self.cancel_button.is_some() || middle_press.is_some() || middle_down || middle_released || has_release_event;
         if let Some(button) = self.cancel_button {
             if !ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.button_down(button)) {
                 self.cancel_button = None;
@@ -106,13 +112,23 @@ impl AutoScroll {
             {
                 self.anchor = Some(pressed_at);
                 self.organize = organize;
+                self.held_frames_past_dead_zone = 0;
             }
         }
         let (Some(anchor), Some(pointer)) = (self.anchor, pointer) else { return Vec2::ZERO };
         let displacement = pointer.y - anchor.y;
+        let past_dead_zone = displacement.is_finite() && displacement.abs() > DEAD_ZONE;
+        if middle_down && !has_release_event && past_dead_zone {
+            self.held_frames_past_dead_zone = self.held_frames_past_dead_zone.saturating_add(1);
+        }
+        if (middle_released || has_release_event) && self.held_frames_past_dead_zone >= 2 {
+            self.cancel();
+            self.block_input = true;
+            return Vec2::ZERO;
+        }
         // Cap the elapsed time too: returning from an idle/hidden window must never jump pages.
         let delta = scroll_delta(displacement, dt);
-        if displacement.is_finite() && displacement.abs() > DEAD_ZONE {
+        if past_dead_zone {
             // Continuous redraws let stable_dt use measured frame time. Delayed redraws
             // instead use predicted_dt, which can make speed depend on the actual frame rate.
             ctx.request_repaint();
@@ -124,6 +140,7 @@ impl AutoScroll {
     /// blocked from the press through the release, so the drag cannot also draw, select or move.
     fn update_drag(&mut self, ui: &egui::Ui, viewport: egui::Rect) -> Vec2 {
         self.anchor = None;
+        self.held_frames_past_dead_zone = 0;
         self.cancel_button = None;
         let ctx = ui.ctx();
         let (pointer, middle_press, middle_down, middle_released, focused) = ctx.input(|i| {
@@ -319,6 +336,103 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(latched_by(10.0, true), Vec2::ZERO, "the dead zone still holds still");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn holding_middle_button_to_auto_scroll_turns_off_on_release() {
+        let ctx = Context::default();
+        let mut scroll = AutoScroll::default();
+        let p = egui::pos2(100.0, 100.0);
+        let far = p + vec2(0.0, 60.0);
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![], true, (true, false), |_, _| {});
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(p), middle(p, true)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(s.active() && s.blocks_input());
+            assert_eq!(d, Vec2::ZERO);
+        });
+        for _ in 0..2 {
+            frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(far)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+                assert!(s.active() && s.blocks_input());
+                assert!(d.y < 0.0, "holding and moving past the dead zone scrolls: {d:?}");
+            });
+        }
+        // Primary case: releasing while still past the dead zone stops auto-scroll immediately.
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![middle(far, false)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(!s.active(), "releasing at +60pt after holding must turn auto-scroll off");
+            assert!(s.blocks_input(), "the release frame itself still blocks page tools");
+            assert_eq!(d, Vec2::ZERO);
+        });
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(far)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(!s.active() && !s.blocks_input());
+            assert_eq!(d, Vec2::ZERO);
+        });
+
+        // Returning inside the dead zone before releasing still counts as a held scroll gesture.
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(p), middle(p, true)], true, (true, false), |s, _| assert!(s.active()));
+        for _ in 0..2 {
+            frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(far)], true, (true, false), |s, d| assert!(s.active() && d.y < 0.0));
+        }
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(p + vec2(0.0, 5.0)), middle(p + vec2(0.0, 5.0), false)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(!s.active(), "releasing after scrolling while held must turn auto-scroll off");
+            assert!(s.blocks_input());
+            assert_eq!(d, Vec2::ZERO);
+        });
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn middle_click_released_within_dead_zone_stays_latched() {
+        let ctx = Context::default();
+        let mut scroll = AutoScroll::default();
+        let p = egui::pos2(100.0, 100.0);
+        let far = p + vec2(0.0, 60.0);
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![], true, (true, false), |_, _| {});
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(p), middle(p, true)], true, (true, false), |s, _| assert!(s.active()));
+        frame(
+            &ctx,
+            &mut scroll,
+            vec![Event::PointerMoved(p + vec2(0.0, DEAD_ZONE)), middle(p + vec2(0.0, DEAD_ZONE), false)],
+            true,
+            (true, false),
+            |s, d| {
+                assert!(s.active(), "releasing within the dead zone keeps auto-scroll latched");
+                assert_eq!(d, Vec2::ZERO);
+            },
+        );
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(far)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(s.active());
+            assert!(d.y < 0.0);
+        });
+        scroll.cancel();
+
+        // Pointer movement after middle-button release in the same frame does not count as held movement.
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![Event::PointerMoved(p), middle(p, true)], true, (true, false), |s, _| assert!(s.active()));
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![middle(p, false), Event::PointerMoved(far)], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(s.active(), "movement after release in the same frame keeps auto-scroll latched");
+            assert!(d.y < 0.0);
+        });
+        scroll.cancel();
+
+        // A press, move, and release arriving in a single frame is a click at the initial press position,
+        // and stays latched across subsequent frames when egui delivers its deferred button_released state
+        // or runs multiple layout passes within the activation frame.
+        frame(
+            &ctx,
+            &mut scroll,
+            vec![Event::PointerMoved(p), middle(p, true), Event::PointerMoved(far), middle(far, false)],
+            true,
+            (true, false),
+            |s, d| {
+                assert!(s.active(), "single-frame click and move latches auto-scroll");
+                assert!(d.y < 0.0);
+            },
+        );
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(s.active(), "deferred button_released in the next frame must keep auto-scroll latched");
+            assert!(d.y < 0.0);
+        });
+        frame(&ctx, &mut scroll, vec![], true, (true, false), |s, d| {
+            assert!(s.active(), "subsequent frames after deferred release must keep auto-scroll latched");
+            assert!(d.y < 0.0);
+        });
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn middle_drag_pans_one_to_one_and_owns_the_button_until_release() {
         let ctx = Context::default();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/comments.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/comments.rs
index 532c45de91..fa387f9a18 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/comments.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/comments.rs
@@ -2790,16 +2790,12 @@ fn a_middle_drag_with_a_drawing_tool_scrolls_instead_of_drawing() {
     assert!(!s.views[0].middle_panning(), "releasing the wheel ends the pan");
     let moved = s.views[0].page_screen_rect(0).expect("page 1 on screen").top();
     if cfg!(target_os = "linux") {
-        // Linux latches auto-scroll instead of panning with the drag.
-        assert!(s.views[0].auto_scrolling());
+        // Linux auto-scrolls while the wheel is held and stops on release.
+        assert!(!s.views[0].auto_scrolling());
     } else {
         assert!((moved - (top - 120.0)).abs() < 1.0, "the page follows the pointer: {top} -> {moved}");
     }
     // The tool still draws with the primary button afterwards.
-    if cfg!(target_os = "linux") {
-        h.key_press(egui::Key::Escape);
-        h.run_steps(2);
-    }
     drag_pt(&mut h, (60.0, 120.0), (200.0, 80.0));
     let kinds: Vec<String> = comments(&h).into_iter().map(|a| a.subtype).collect();
     assert_eq!(kinds, ["Ink"]);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/control.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/control.rs
index 1b9cb85a39..02b21d1692 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/control.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/control.rs
@@ -665,13 +665,21 @@ fn moving_before_middle_button_release_keeps_scrolling_without_starting_page_too
     ok(&mut h, &c, "ui.drag", json!({ "from": [p.x, p.y], "to": [p.x, p.y + 60.0], "steps": 12, "button": "middle" }));
     h.run_steps(2);
     assert!(h.state().views[0].page_screen_rect(0).unwrap().top() < top - 20.0);
-    assert!(h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "release keeps scrolling toggled on even after movement");
+    assert!(!h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "releasing after holding and scrolling turns auto-scroll off");
     let released = h.state().views[0].page_screen_rect(0).unwrap().top();
     h.run_steps(8);
-    assert!(h.state().views[0].page_screen_rect(0).unwrap().top() < released - 30.0, "scrolling continues with no button held");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().views[0].page_screen_rect(0).unwrap().top(), released, "no drift after releasing a held middle drag");
     assert!(h.state().views[0].crop_drag.is_none(), "the Crop tool must not receive a wheel drag");
     assert!(h.state().dialog.is_none());
     assert!(!h.state().session.get(h.state().views[0].id).unwrap().dirty);
+
+    // Small movement within the dead zone before release still latches auto-scroll on.
+    ok(&mut h, &c, "ui.drag", json!({ "from": [p.x, p.y], "to": [p.x, p.y + 10.0], "steps": 4, "button": "middle" }));
+    assert!(h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "release within the dead zone keeps scrolling toggled on");
+    ok(&mut h, &c, "ui.move", json!({ "x": p.x, "y": p.y + 60.0 }));
+    h.run_steps(8);
+    assert!(h.state().views[0].page_screen_rect(0).unwrap().top() < released - 30.0, "scrolling continues with no button held");
+    assert!(h.state().views[0].crop_drag.is_none(), "the Crop tool must not receive a wheel drag");
     ok(&mut h, &c, "ui.click", json!({ "x": p.x, "y": p.y + 60.0, "button": "middle" }));
     assert!(!h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "the next middle click toggles scrolling off");
 }
@@ -886,7 +894,8 @@ fn organize_pages_supports_autoscroll_without_selecting_or_reordering_pages() {
     assert!(h.state().views[0].selected.is_empty());
     assert!(h.state().views[0].org_drag.is_none());
     assert!(!h.state().session.get(h.state().views[0].id).unwrap().dirty);
-    assert!(h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "releasing the wheel leaves the grid scrolling on");
+    assert!(!h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "releasing a held wheel stops the grid scrolling");
+    start_autoscroll(&mut h, &c);
     h.state_mut().views[0].organize = false;
     h.run_steps(2);
     assert!(!h.state().views[0].auto_scrolling(), "changing canvas mode cancels the gesture");