diff -u motion-3.2.11/motion.c motion-3.2.11my/motion.c
--- motion-3.2.11/motion.c	2008-09-21 17:20:58.000000000 -0600
+++ motion-3.2.11my/motion.c	2009-04-27 20:09:29.751665605 -0600
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@
     cnt->lightswitch_framecounter = 0;
     cnt->detecting_motion = 0;
     cnt->makemovie = 0;
+    cnt->autobright_counter = 0;
 
     motion_log(LOG_DEBUG, 0, "Thread %d started", (unsigned long)pthread_getspecific(tls_key_threadnr));
 
diff -u motion-3.2.11/motion.h motion-3.2.11my/motion.h
--- motion-3.2.11/motion.h	2008-09-21 17:20:58.000000000 -0600
+++ motion-3.2.11my/motion.h	2009-04-27 20:09:22.428413294 -0600
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@
     char text_event_string[PATH_MAX];       /* The text for conv. spec. %C -
                                             we assume PATH_MAX normally 4096 characters is fine */
     int postcap;                            /* downcounter, frames left to to send post event */
+    
+    int autobright_counter;                 /* used to delay adjustments to brightness */
 
     short int shots;
     unsigned short int detecting_motion;
diff -u motion-3.2.11/video_common.c motion-3.2.11my/video_common.c
--- motion-3.2.11/video_common.c	2008-09-21 17:20:58.000000000 -0600
+++ motion-3.2.11my/video_common.c	2009-04-27 20:33:59.090667567 -0600
@@ -465,6 +465,7 @@
 #define AUTOBRIGHT_DAMPER      5
 #define AUTOBRIGHT_MAX       255
 #define AUTOBRIGHT_MIN         0
+#define AUTOBRIGHT_DELAY       5       
 
 int vid_do_autobright(struct context *cnt, struct video_dev *viddev)
 {
@@ -476,6 +477,12 @@
     unsigned char *image = cnt->imgs.image_virgin; /* Or cnt->current_image ? */
 
     int make_change = 0;
+    
+    if (cnt->autobright_counter) {
+        /* too soon since last adjustment, don't make another one */
+        cnt->autobright_counter--;
+	return 0;
+    }
 
     if (cnt->conf.brightness)
         brightness_target = cnt->conf.brightness;
@@ -506,6 +513,8 @@
             make_change = 1;
         }
     }
+    if (make_change)
+        cnt->autobright_counter = AUTOBRIGHT_DELAY;
 
     return make_change;
 }