diff --git a/app/paint/gimpairbrush.c b/app/paint/gimpairbrush.c
index f78a5b82b9..c2d3b54ef4 100644
--- a/app/paint/gimpairbrush.c
+++ b/app/paint/gimpairbrush.c
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ gimp_airbrush_motion (GimpPaintCore    *paint_core,
     opacity *= coords->pressure;
 
   if (saved_velocity)
-    opacity *= MAX (0.0, coords->velocity);
+    opacity *= MAX (0.0, 1 - coords->velocity);
 
   paint_options->pressure_options->hardness = FALSE;
   paint_options->velocity_options->hardness = FALSE;