diff --git a/instantwm.c b/instantwm.c
index bf981cad..b5c8ace1 100644
--- a/instantwm.c
+++ b/instantwm.c
@@ -3878,7 +3878,7 @@ run(void)
 	/* main event loop */
 	XSync(dpy, False);
 	while (running && !XNextEvent(dpy, &ev))
-		if (handler[ev.type])
+		if (handler[ev.type] && XEventsQueued(dpy, QueuedAlready) < 250)
 			handler[ev.type](&ev); /* call handler */
 }