diff --git a/artiq/browser/experiments.py b/artiq/browser/experiments.py
index 23a271eb9..c34ea5832 100644
--- a/artiq/browser/experiments.py
+++ b/artiq/browser/experiments.py
@@ -10,22 +10,14 @@ import h5py
 from sipyco import pyon
 
 from artiq import __artiq_dir__ as artiq_dir
-from artiq.gui.tools import LayoutWidget, log_level_to_name, get_open_file_name
+from artiq.gui.tools import (LayoutWidget, WheelFilter, 
+                             log_level_to_name, get_open_file_name)
 from artiq.gui.entries import procdesc_to_entry
 from artiq.master.worker import Worker, log_worker_exception
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class _WheelFilter(QtCore.QObject):
-    def eventFilter(self, obj, event):
-        if (event.type() == QtCore.QEvent.Wheel and
-                event.modifiers() != QtCore.Qt.NoModifier):
-            event.ignore()
-            return True
-        return False
-
-
 class _ArgumentEditor(QtWidgets.QTreeWidget):
     def __init__(self, dock):
         QtWidgets.QTreeWidget.__init__(self)
@@ -46,7 +38,7 @@ class _ArgumentEditor(QtWidgets.QTreeWidget):
         self.setStyleSheet("QTreeWidget {background: " +
                            self.palette().midlight().color().name() + " ;}")
 
-        self.viewport().installEventFilter(_WheelFilter(self.viewport()))
+        self.viewport().installEventFilter(WheelFilter(self.viewport(), True))
 
         self._groups = dict()
         self._arg_to_widgets = dict()
diff --git a/artiq/dashboard/experiments.py b/artiq/dashboard/experiments.py
index 254dd05ab..74c3496a9 100644
--- a/artiq/dashboard/experiments.py
+++ b/artiq/dashboard/experiments.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ from sipyco import pyon
 
 from artiq.gui.entries import procdesc_to_entry, ScanEntry
 from artiq.gui.fuzzy_select import FuzzySelectWidget
-from artiq.gui.tools import LayoutWidget, log_level_to_name, get_open_file_name
+from artiq.gui.tools import (LayoutWidget, WheelFilter, 
+                             log_level_to_name, get_open_file_name)
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -23,15 +24,6 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # 2. file:<class name>@<file name>
 
 
-class _WheelFilter(QtCore.QObject):
-    def eventFilter(self, obj, event):
-        if (event.type() == QtCore.QEvent.Wheel and
-                event.modifiers() != QtCore.Qt.NoModifier):
-            event.ignore()
-            return True
-        return False
-
-
 class _ArgumentEditor(QtWidgets.QTreeWidget):
     def __init__(self, manager, dock, expurl):
         self.manager = manager
@@ -55,7 +47,7 @@ class _ArgumentEditor(QtWidgets.QTreeWidget):
         self.setStyleSheet("QTreeWidget {background: " +
                            self.palette().midlight().color().name() + " ;}")
 
-        self.viewport().installEventFilter(_WheelFilter(self.viewport()))
+        self.viewport().installEventFilter(WheelFilter(self.viewport(), True))
 
         self._groups = dict()
         self._arg_to_widgets = dict()
diff --git a/artiq/gui/tools.py b/artiq/gui/tools.py
index bc681bb77..441da9b81 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/tools.py
@@ -16,10 +16,16 @@ def log_level_to_name(level):
     return "DEBUG"
 
 
-class _WheelFilter(QtCore.QObject):
+class WheelFilter(QtCore.QObject):
+    def __init__(self, parent, ignore_with_modifier=False):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self.ignore_with_modifier = ignore_with_modifier
+
     def eventFilter(self, obj, event):
-        if (event.type() == QtCore.QEvent.Wheel and
-                event.modifiers() == QtCore.Qt.NoModifier):
+        if event.type() != QtCore.QEvent.Wheel:
+            return False
+        has_modifier = event.modifiers() != QtCore.Qt.NoModifier
+        if has_modifier == self.ignore_with_modifier:
             event.ignore()
             return True
         return False
@@ -27,7 +33,7 @@ class _WheelFilter(QtCore.QObject):
 
 def disable_scroll_wheel(widget):
     widget.setFocusPolicy(QtCore.Qt.StrongFocus)
-    widget.installEventFilter(_WheelFilter(widget))
+    widget.installEventFilter(WheelFilter(widget))
 
 
 class QDockWidgetCloseDetect(QtWidgets.QDockWidget):