diff --git a/lisp/cus-start.el b/lisp/cus-start.el
index 054683d7cf6..2ed904f178f 100644
--- a/lisp/cus-start.el
+++ b/lisp/cus-start.el
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ Leaving \"Default\" unchecked is equivalent with specifying a default of
 	     (inverse-video display boolean)
 	     (visible-bell display boolean)
 	     (no-redraw-on-reenter display boolean)
+	     (mouse-prefer-closest-glyph display boolean)
 
              ;; doc.c
              (text-quoting-style display
diff --git a/src/dispnew.c b/src/dispnew.c
index 65d9cf9b4e1..669cd5f4d33 100644
--- a/src/dispnew.c
+++ b/src/dispnew.c
@@ -5611,6 +5611,15 @@ buffer_posn_from_coords (struct window *w, int *x, int *y, struct display_pos *p
      argument is ZV to prevent move_it_in_display_line from matching
      based on buffer positions.  */
   move_it_in_display_line (&it, ZV, to_x, MOVE_TO_X);
+  if (mouse_prefer_closest_glyph)
+    {
+      int next_x = it.current_x + it.pixel_width;
+      int before_dx = to_x - it.current_x;
+      int after_dx = next_x - to_x;
+      if (before_dx > after_dx)
+        move_it_in_display_line (&it, ZV, next_x, MOVE_TO_X);
+    }
+
   bidi_unshelve_cache (itdata, 0);
 
   Fset_buffer (old_current_buffer);
@@ -6788,6 +6797,15 @@ predicates which report frame's specific UI-related capabilities.  */);
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("cursor-in-echo-area", cursor_in_echo_area,
 	       doc: /* Non-nil means put cursor in minibuffer, at end of any message there.  */);
 
+  DEFVAR_BOOL ("mouse-prefer-closest-glyph", mouse_prefer_closest_glyph,
+	       doc: /*  Non-nil means mouse position lists are reported relative
+to the glyph closest to their coordinates.
+
+ When non-nil, mouse position lists will be reported with their
+`posn-point' set to the position of the glyph closest to the mouse
+pointer, instead of the glyph immediately under.  */);
+  mouse_prefer_closest_glyph = false;
+
   DEFVAR_LISP ("glyph-table", Vglyph_table,
 	       doc: /* Table defining how to output a glyph code to the frame.
 If not nil, this is a vector indexed by glyph code to define the glyph.
diff --git a/src/xterm.c b/src/xterm.c
index 5840b15bcb7..b460603068c 100644
--- a/src/xterm.c
+++ b/src/xterm.c
@@ -14161,6 +14161,20 @@ x_construct_mouse_click (struct input_event *result,
   return Qnil;
 }
 
+/* Function to bisect `glyph` into left and right halves, then
+   replace it with the half in which `x` is.  */
+
+static void
+x_vertical_bisect_glyph(XRectangle *glyph, int x)
+{
+  int halfwidth = glyph->width / 2;
+  glyph->width = halfwidth;
+
+  int bisection = glyph->x + halfwidth;
+  if (x > bisection)
+    glyph->x = bisection;
+}
+
 /* Function to report a mouse movement to the mainstream Emacs code.
    The input handler calls this.
 
@@ -14218,6 +14232,8 @@ x_note_mouse_movement (struct frame *frame, const XMotionEvent *event,
       note_mouse_highlight (frame, event->x, event->y);
       /* Remember which glyph we're now on.  */
       remember_mouse_glyph (frame, event->x, event->y, r);
+      if (mouse_prefer_closest_glyph)
+        x_vertical_bisect_glyph(r, event->x);
       dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph_frame = frame;
       return true;
     }
@@ -14382,6 +14398,8 @@ x_fast_mouse_position (struct frame **fp, int insist, Lisp_Object *bar_window,
 	  remember_mouse_glyph (f1, win_x, win_y,
 				&dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph);
 	  dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph_frame = f1;
+	  if (mouse_prefer_closest_glyph)
+	    x_vertical_bisect_glyph(&dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph, win_x);
 
 	  *bar_window = Qnil;
 	  *part = scroll_bar_nowhere;
@@ -14733,6 +14751,8 @@ XTmouse_position (struct frame **fp, int insist, Lisp_Object *bar_window,
 	    dpyinfo = FRAME_DISPLAY_INFO (f1);
 	    remember_mouse_glyph (f1, win_x, win_y, &dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph);
 	    dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph_frame = f1;
+	    if (mouse_prefer_closest_glyph)
+	      x_vertical_bisect_glyph(&dpyinfo->last_mouse_glyph, win_x);
 
 	    *bar_window = Qnil;
 	    *part = 0;