diff --git a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
index d00f804f..40e88947 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/GradientEditorItem.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class TickSliderItem(GraphicsWidget):
         self.sigTicksChangeFinished.emit(self)
     
     def tickClicked(self, tick, ev):
-        if ev.button() == QtCore.Qt.RightButton:
+        if ev.button() == QtCore.Qt.RightButton and tick.removeAllowed:
             self.removeTick(tick)
     
     def widgetLength(self):
@@ -766,7 +766,6 @@ class GradientEditorItem(TickSliderItem):
             color = self.getColor(x)
         t = TickSliderItem.addTick(self, x, color=color, movable=movable, finish=finish)
         t.colorChangeAllowed = True
-        t.removeAllowed = True
         
         return t
         
@@ -872,6 +871,7 @@ class Tick(QtGui.QGraphicsWidget):  ## NOTE: Making this a subclass of GraphicsO
         self.pen = fn.mkPen(pen)
         self.hoverPen = fn.mkPen(255,255,0)
         self.currentPen = self.pen
+        self.removeAllowed = True
         self.pg = QtGui.QPainterPath(QtCore.QPointF(0,0))
         self.pg.lineTo(QtCore.QPointF(-scale/3**0.5, scale))
         self.pg.lineTo(QtCore.QPointF(scale/3**0.5, scale))