diff --git a/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp b/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
index 8d1b73c4..23635760 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigDescriptions.hpp
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ inline static const std::vector<SConfigOptionDescription> CONFIG_OPTIONS = {
     },
     SConfigOptionDescription{
         .value       = "cursor:no_hardware_cursors",
-        .description = "disables hardware cursors",
+        .description = "disables hardware cursors. Auto = disable when tearing",
         .type        = CONFIG_OPTION_CHOICE,
         .data        = SConfigOptionDescription::SChoiceData{0, "Disabled,Enabled,Auto"},
     },
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index 43abcb1f..00dba200 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ CConfigManager::CConfigManager() {
 
     m_pConfig->addConfigValue("opengl:nvidia_anti_flicker", Hyprlang::INT{1});
 
-    m_pConfig->addConfigValue("cursor:no_hardware_cursors", Hyprlang::INT{0});
+    m_pConfig->addConfigValue("cursor:no_hardware_cursors", Hyprlang::INT{2});
     m_pConfig->addConfigValue("cursor:no_break_fs_vrr", Hyprlang::INT{2});
     m_pConfig->addConfigValue("cursor:min_refresh_rate", Hyprlang::INT{24});
     m_pConfig->addConfigValue("cursor:hotspot_padding", Hyprlang::INT{0});
@@ -2798,12 +2798,13 @@ const std::vector<SConfigOptionDescription>& CConfigManager::getAllDescriptions(
     return CONFIG_OPTIONS;
 }
 
-bool CConfigManager::shouldUseSoftwareCursors() {
+bool CConfigManager::shouldUseSoftwareCursors(PHLMONITOR pMonitor) {
     static auto PNOHW = CConfigValue<Hyprlang::INT>("cursor:no_hardware_cursors");
 
     switch (*PNOHW) {
         case 0: return false;
         case 1: return true;
+        case 2: return pMonitor->tearingState.activelyTearing;
         default: break;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
index f0696882..b914a3a3 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.hpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class CConfigManager {
     void                                               ensureMonitorStatus();
     void                                               ensureVRR(PHLMONITOR pMonitor = nullptr);
 
-    bool                                               shouldUseSoftwareCursors();
+    bool                                               shouldUseSoftwareCursors(PHLMONITOR pMonitor);
     void                                               updateWatcher();
 
     std::string                                        parseKeyword(const std::string&, const std::string&);
diff --git a/src/managers/PointerManager.cpp b/src/managers/PointerManager.cpp
index 24f2b35d..048719b8 100644
--- a/src/managers/PointerManager.cpp
+++ b/src/managers/PointerManager.cpp
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ void CPointerManager::updateCursorBackend() {
             continue;
         }
 
-        if (state->softwareLocks > 0 || g_pConfigManager->shouldUseSoftwareCursors() || !attemptHardwareCursor(state)) {
+        if (state->softwareLocks > 0 || g_pConfigManager->shouldUseSoftwareCursors(m) || !attemptHardwareCursor(state)) {
             Debug::log(TRACE, "Output {} rejected hardware cursors, falling back to sw", m->szName);
             state->box            = getCursorBoxLogicalForMonitor(state->monitor.lock());
             state->hardwareFailed = true;
@@ -737,7 +737,8 @@ void CPointerManager::damageIfSoftware() {
         if (mw->monitor.expired() || !mw->monitor->output)
             continue;
 
-        if ((mw->softwareLocks > 0 || mw->hardwareFailed || g_pConfigManager->shouldUseSoftwareCursors()) && b.overlaps({mw->monitor->vecPosition, mw->monitor->vecSize})) {
+        if ((mw->softwareLocks > 0 || mw->hardwareFailed || g_pConfigManager->shouldUseSoftwareCursors(mw->monitor.lock())) &&
+            b.overlaps({mw->monitor->vecPosition, mw->monitor->vecSize})) {
             g_pHyprRenderer->damageBox(b, mw->monitor->shouldSkipScheduleFrameOnMouseEvent());
             break;
         }