diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventAbstractionListener.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventAbstractionListener.java
index bd83a2c2..f694d0fe 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventAbstractionListener.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventAbstractionListener.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import com.sk89q.worldguard.bukkit.util.Blocks;
 import com.sk89q.worldguard.bukkit.util.Events;
 import com.sk89q.worldguard.bukkit.util.Materials;
+import com.sk89q.worldguard.bukkit.util.WGMetadata;
 import org.bukkit.DyeColor;
 import org.bukkit.Material;
 import org.bukkit.World;
@@ -110,11 +111,7 @@
 
 public class EventAbstractionListener extends AbstractListener {
 
-    /**
-     * Abstract {@link BlockFromToEvent}s into break and place events.
-     * Currently disabled as it creates a lot of new events.
-     */
-    public static final boolean ABSTRACT_FROM_TO_EVENTS = false;
+    private static final String ITEM_PICKUP_DEBOUNCE_KEY = "worldguard.debounce.itemPickup";
 
     /**
      * Construct the listener.
@@ -557,7 +554,21 @@ public void onPlayerShearEntity(PlayerShearEntityEvent event) {
 
     @EventHandler
     public void onPlayerPickupItem(PlayerPickupItemEvent event) {
-        Events.fireToCancel(event, new DestroyEntityEvent(event, create(event.getPlayer()), event.getItem()));
+        Item item = event.getItem();
+
+        // These events happen very frequently so let's reduce their frequency
+        EventDebounce debounce = WGMetadata.getIfPresent(item, ITEM_PICKUP_DEBOUNCE_KEY, EventDebounce.class);
+        if (debounce != null && debounce.isValid()) {
+            if (debounce.getLastCancellation()) {
+                event.setCancelled(true);
+            }
+        } else {
+            boolean cancelled = Events.fireAndTestCancel(new DestroyEntityEvent(event, create(event.getPlayer()), event.getItem()));
+            if (cancelled) {
+                event.setCancelled(true);
+            }
+            WGMetadata.put(item, ITEM_PICKUP_DEBOUNCE_KEY, new EventDebounce(cancelled));
+        }
     }
 
     @EventHandler
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventDebounce.java b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventDebounce.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6facf9fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/com/sk89q/worldguard/bukkit/listener/EventDebounce.java
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/*
+ * WorldGuard, a suite of tools for Minecraft
+ * Copyright (C) sk89q <http://www.sk89q.com>
+ * Copyright (C) WorldGuard team and contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the
+ * Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ * along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.sk89q.worldguard.bukkit.listener;
+
+class EventDebounce {
+
+    private static final int DEBOUNCE_TIME = 5000;
+
+    private final long time = System.currentTimeMillis();
+    private final boolean cancelled;
+
+    EventDebounce(boolean cancelled) {
+        this.cancelled = cancelled;
+    }
+
+    public boolean isValid() {
+        return System.currentTimeMillis() - time < DEBOUNCE_TIME;
+    }
+
+    public boolean getLastCancellation() {
+        return cancelled;
+    }
+
+}