diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ed4253d0..7e115412 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ signaturePad.penColor = "rgb(66, 133, 244)";
 
 <dl>
 <dt>beginStroke</dt>
-<dd>Triggered before stroke begins.</dd>
+<dd>Triggered before stroke begins.<br>Can be canceled with <code>event.preventDefault()</code></dd>
 <dt>endStroke</dt>
 <dd>Triggered after stroke ends.</dd>
 <dt>beforeUpdateStroke</dt>
diff --git a/src/signature_pad.ts b/src/signature_pad.ts
index e4fd17a7..7aacfefa 100644
--- a/src/signature_pad.ts
+++ b/src/signature_pad.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   // Private stuff
   /* tslint:disable: variable-name */
   private _ctx: CanvasRenderingContext2D;
-  private _drawningStroke = false;
+  private _drawingStroke = false;
   private _isEmpty = true;
   private _lastPoints: Point[] = []; // Stores up to 4 most recent points; used to generate a new curve
   private _data: PointGroup[] = []; // Stores all points in groups (one group per line or dot)
@@ -250,20 +250,16 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   // Event handlers
   private _handleMouseDown = (event: MouseEvent): void => {
     if (event.buttons === 1) {
-      this._drawningStroke = true;
       this._strokeBegin(event);
     }
   };
 
   private _handleMouseMove = (event: MouseEvent): void => {
-    if (this._drawningStroke) {
-      this._strokeMoveUpdate(event);
-    }
+    this._strokeMoveUpdate(event);
   };
 
   private _handleMouseUp = (event: MouseEvent): void => {
-    if (event.buttons === 1 && this._drawningStroke) {
-      this._drawningStroke = false;
+    if (event.buttons === 1) {
       this._strokeEnd(event);
     }
   };
@@ -302,22 +298,17 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   };
 
   private _handlePointerStart = (event: PointerEvent): void => {
-    this._drawningStroke = true;
     event.preventDefault();
     this._strokeBegin(event);
   };
 
   private _handlePointerMove = (event: PointerEvent): void => {
-    if (this._drawningStroke) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      this._strokeMoveUpdate(event);
-    }
+    this._strokeMoveUpdate(event);
   };
 
   private _handlePointerEnd = (event: PointerEvent): void => {
-    if (this._drawningStroke) {
+    if (this._drawingStroke) {
       event.preventDefault();
-      this._drawningStroke = false;
       this._strokeEnd(event);
     }
   };
@@ -341,7 +332,13 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
 
   // Private methods
   private _strokeBegin(event: SignatureEvent): void {
-    this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('beginStroke', { detail: event }));
+    const cancelled = !this.dispatchEvent(
+      new CustomEvent('beginStroke', { detail: event, cancelable: true }),
+    );
+    if (cancelled) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this._drawingStroke = true;
 
     const pointGroupOptions = this._getPointGroupOptions();
 
@@ -356,6 +353,10 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   }
 
   private _strokeUpdate(event: SignatureEvent): void {
+    if (!this._drawingStroke) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (this._data.length === 0) {
       // This can happen if clear() was called while a signature is still in progress,
       // or if there is a race condition between start/update events.
@@ -373,8 +374,8 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
       (event as PointerEvent).pressure !== undefined
         ? (event as PointerEvent).pressure
         : (event as Touch).force !== undefined
-          ? (event as Touch).force
-          : 0;
+        ? (event as Touch).force
+        : 0;
 
     const point = this._createPoint(x, y, pressure);
     const lastPointGroup = this._data[this._data.length - 1];
@@ -408,13 +409,18 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   }
 
   private _strokeEnd(event: SignatureEvent): void {
+    if (!this._drawingStroke) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     this._strokeUpdate(event);
 
+    this._drawingStroke = false;
     this.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('endStroke', { detail: event }));
   }
 
   private _handlePointerEvents(): void {
-    this._drawningStroke = false;
+    this._drawingStroke = false;
 
     this.canvas.addEventListener('pointerdown', this._handlePointerStart);
     this.canvas.addEventListener('pointermove', this._handlePointerMove);
@@ -425,7 +431,7 @@ export default class SignaturePad extends SignatureEventTarget {
   }
 
   private _handleMouseEvents(): void {
-    this._drawningStroke = false;
+    this._drawingStroke = false;
 
     this.canvas.addEventListener('mousedown', this._handleMouseDown);
     this.canvas.addEventListener('mousemove', this._handleMouseMove);
diff --git a/tests/signature_pad.test.ts b/tests/signature_pad.test.ts
index 521046cb..386b01e7 100644
--- a/tests/signature_pad.test.ts
+++ b/tests/signature_pad.test.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ describe('#clear', () => {
 
     const context = canvas.getContext('2d') as CanvasRenderingContext2D;
     expect(context.globalCompositeOperation).toBe('destination-out');
-  })
+  });
 });
 
 describe('#isEmpty', () => {
@@ -141,9 +141,7 @@ describe('#toDataURL', () => {
     const pad = new SignaturePad(canvas);
     pad.fromData(face);
 
-    expect(pad.toDataURL()).toEqual(
-      expect.stringMatching('data:image/png'),
-    );
+    expect(pad.toDataURL()).toEqual(expect.stringMatching('data:image/png'));
   });
 
   it('returns PNG image in data URL format', () => {
@@ -491,4 +489,43 @@ describe('Signature events.', () => {
       expect(event.detail).toBe(pointerEvent);
     });
   });
+
+  it(`cancel beginStroke.`, () => {
+    const endStroke: EventListener = jest.fn();
+    const cancelEvent: EventListener = jest.fn((evt: Event): void => {
+      evt.preventDefault();
+    });
+
+    signpad.addEventListener('beginStroke', cancelEvent);
+    signpad.addEventListener('endStroke', endStroke);
+
+    canvas.dispatchEvent(
+      new PointerEvent('pointerdown', {
+        clientX: 50,
+        clientY: 30,
+        pressure: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+    canvas.dispatchEvent(
+      new PointerEvent('pointermove', {
+        clientX: 50,
+        clientY: 40,
+        pressure: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+    document.dispatchEvent(
+      new PointerEvent('pointerup', {
+        clientX: 50,
+        clientY: 40,
+        pressure: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(cancelEvent).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(endStroke).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(signpad.isEmpty()).toBe(true);
+
+    signpad.removeEventListener('beginStroke', cancelEvent);
+    signpad.removeEventListener('endStroke', endStroke);
+  });
 });