diff --git a/config/aerc.conf.in b/config/aerc.conf.in
index 3919b39..9f45883 100644
--- a/config/aerc.conf.in
+++ b/config/aerc.conf.in
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ pinned-tab-marker='`'
 # Default: %n %>r
 dirlist-format=%n %>r
 
+# Delay after which the messages are actually listed when entering a directory.
+# This avoids loading messages when skipping over folders and makes the UI more
+# responsive. If you do not want that, set it to 0s.
+#
+# Default: 200ms
+dirlist-delay=200ms
+
 # List of space-separated criteria to sort the messages by, see *sort*
 # command in *aerc*(1) for reference. Prefixing a criterion with "-r "
 # reverses that criterion.
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 374fd5c..e2acbaf 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ type UIConfig struct {
 	Spinner             string        `ini:"spinner"`
 	SpinnerDelimiter    string        `ini:"spinner-delimiter"`
 	DirListFormat       string        `ini:"dirlist-format"`
+	DirListDelay        time.Duration `ini:"dirlist-delay"`
 	Sort                []string      `delim:" "`
 	NextMessageOnDelete bool          `ini:"next-message-on-delete"`
 	CompletionDelay     time.Duration `ini:"completion-delay"`
@@ -564,6 +565,7 @@ func LoadConfigFromFile(root *string, sharedir string, logger *log.Logger) (*Aer
 			Spinner:             "[..]    , [..]   ,  [..]  ,   [..] ,    [..],   [..] ,  [..]  , [..]   ",
 			SpinnerDelimiter:    ",",
 			DirListFormat:       "%n %>r",
+			DirListDelay:        200 * time.Millisecond,
 			NextMessageOnDelete: true,
 			CompletionDelay:     250 * time.Millisecond,
 			CompletionPopovers:  true,
diff --git a/doc/aerc-config.5.scd b/doc/aerc-config.5.scd
index 89485b2..f40c9cb 100644
--- a/doc/aerc-config.5.scd
+++ b/doc/aerc-config.5.scd
@@ -177,6 +177,14 @@ These options are configured in the *[ui]* section of aerc.conf.
 |  %>X
 :  make format specifier 'X' be right justified
 
+*dirlist-delay*
+	Delay after which the messages are actually listed when entering
+	a directory. This avoids loading messages when skipping over folders
+	and makes the UI more responsive. If you do not want that, set it to
+	0s.
+
+	Default: 200ms
+
 *next-message-on-delete*
 	Moves to next message when the current message is deleted
 
diff --git a/widgets/dirlist.go b/widgets/dirlist.go
index 53afc1d..6f8869d 100644
--- a/widgets/dirlist.go
+++ b/widgets/dirlist.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (dirlist *DirectoryList) Select(name string) {
 
 	go func() {
 		select {
-		case <-time.After(1 * time.Second):
+		case <-time.After(dirlist.aercConf.Ui.DirListDelay):
 			dirlist.worker.PostAction(&types.OpenDirectory{Directory: name},
 				func(msg types.WorkerMessage) {
 					switch msg.(type) {