diff --git a/book/src/configuration.md b/book/src/configuration.md
index 60b12bfd4..f30146dd4 100644
--- a/book/src/configuration.md
+++ b/book/src/configuration.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ To override global configuration parameters, create a `config.toml` file located
 | `line-number` | Line number display (`absolute`, `relative`) | `absolute` |
 | `smart-case` | Enable smart case regex searching (case insensitive unless pattern contains upper case characters) | `true` |
 | `auto-pairs` | Enable automatic insertion of pairs to parenthese, brackets, etc. | `true` |
+| `idle-timeout` | Time in milliseconds since last keypress before idle timers trigger. Used for autocompletion, set to 0 for instant. | `400` |
 
 ## LSP
 
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 3798c99a2..f005e376c 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -4130,7 +4130,7 @@ pub fn completion(cx: &mut Context) {
             };
 
             if items.is_empty() {
-                editor.set_error("No completion available".to_string());
+                // editor.set_error("No completion available".to_string());
                 return;
             }
             let size = compositor.size();
@@ -4138,7 +4138,14 @@ pub fn completion(cx: &mut Context) {
                 .find(std::any::type_name::<ui::EditorView>())
                 .unwrap();
             if let Some(ui) = ui.as_any_mut().downcast_mut::<ui::EditorView>() {
-                ui.set_completion(editor, items, offset_encoding, start_offset, trigger_offset, size);
+                ui.set_completion(
+                    editor,
+                    items,
+                    offset_encoding,
+                    start_offset,
+                    trigger_offset,
+                    size,
+                );
             };
         },
     );
diff --git a/helix-view/src/editor.rs b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
index 5362acc81..5af6dbf3c 100644
--- a/helix-view/src/editor.rs
+++ b/helix-view/src/editor.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ use helix_core::Position;
 
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
+fn deserialize_duration_millis<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Duration, D::Error>
+where
+    D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let millis = u64::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+    Ok(Duration::from_millis(millis))
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "kebab-case", default)]
 pub struct Config {
@@ -45,6 +53,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub smart_case: bool,
     /// Automatic insertion of pairs to parentheses, brackets, etc. Defaults to true.
     pub auto_pairs: bool,
+    /// Time in milliseconds since last keypress before idle timers trigger. Used for autocompletion, set to 0 for instant. Defaults to 400ms.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing, deserialize_with = "deserialize_duration_millis")]
+    pub idle_timeout: Duration,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Deserialize)]
@@ -72,6 +83,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
             middle_click_paste: true,
             smart_case: true,
             auto_pairs: true,
+            idle_timeout: Duration::from_millis(400),
         }
     }
 }