diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index c72be14d78..daba79a73f 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ Cubeviz
 Imviz
 ^^^^^
 
+- Histogram in Plot Options no longer stalls for a very large image. [#2735]
+
 Mosviz
 ^^^^^^
 
diff --git a/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py b/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
index 4ad3f377f3..ef78823fdf 100644
--- a/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
+++ b/jdaviz/configs/default/plugins/plot_options/plot_options.py
@@ -973,8 +973,12 @@ def _update_stretch_histogram(self, msg={}):
                 x_max = x_limits.max()
                 y_min = max(y_limits.min(), 0)
                 y_max = y_limits.max()
-
                 arr = comp.data[y_min:y_max, x_min:x_max]
+                if self.config == "imviz":
+                    # Downsample input data to about 400px (as per compass.vue) for performance.
+                    xstep = max(1, round(arr.shape[1] / 400))
+                    ystep = max(1, round(arr.shape[0] / 400))
+                    arr = arr[::ystep, ::xstep]
                 sub_data = arr.ravel()
 
             else:
@@ -995,8 +999,14 @@ def _update_stretch_histogram(self, msg={}):
                 sub_data = comp.data[inds].ravel()
 
         else:
-            # include all data, regardless of zoom limits
-            arr = comp.data
+            if self.config == "imviz":
+                # Downsample input data to about 400px (as per compass.vue) for performance.
+                xstep = max(1, round(data.shape[1] / 400))
+                ystep = max(1, round(data.shape[0] / 400))
+                arr = comp[::ystep, ::xstep]
+            else:
+                # include all data, regardless of zoom limits
+                arr = comp.data
             sub_data = arr.ravel()
 
         # filter out nans (or else bqplot will fail)