The study compared right ventricular myocardial performance index (RV MPI) in 60 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 83 age-matched healthy women using echocardiography. RV MPI was calculated as (IVCT + IVRT)/ET and was significantly higher in SSc patients, along with higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure, lower TAPSE and decreased TAPSE/sPAP ratio (all p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and TAPSE/sPAP, RV MPI remained independently associated with SSc. ROC analysis showed excellent discrimination of SSc by RV MPI with area under the curve of 0.92, threshold value of 0.47, sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 94%, whereas TAPSE/sPAP had only moderate discrimination. RV MPI did not correlate with CRP, FVC, DLCO, mRSS or disease duration. In patients with interstitial lung disease, RV MPI values were higher and DLCO <80% more often. RV MPI is a simple non-invasive parameter to identify subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in SSc even without overt symptoms or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.