diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index ffc8dcfff..59357b201 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -44,6 +44,16 @@ class Timers(_Timers):
         timer = self.timer_hash.setdefault(timer, timer)
         return _Timers.add(self, delay, timer, args) if args else _Timers.add(self, delay, timer)
 
+    def add_if_before(self, delay, timer, *args):
+        # Needed because bound methods are recreated on every access
+        timer = self.timer_hash.setdefault(timer, timer)
+        return _Timers.add_if_before(self, delay, timer, *args)
+
+    def add_if_missing(self, delay, timer, *args):
+        # Needed because bound methods are recreated on every access
+        timer = self.timer_hash.setdefault(timer, timer)
+        return _Timers.add_if_missing(self, delay, timer, *args)
+
     def remove(self, timer):
         # Needed because bound methods are recreated on every access
         timer = self.timer_hash.setdefault(timer, timer)
@@ -398,7 +408,7 @@ class Boss:
                         d = int(self.opts.cursor_blink_interval * 1000)
                         n = t // d
                         draw_cursor = n % 2 == 0
-                        self.ui_timers.add_if_missing(
+                        self.ui_timers.add_if_before(
                             ((n + 1) * d / 1000) - now, wakeup_for_cursor_blink_render)
                     if draw_cursor:
                         with self.cursor_program:
diff --git a/kitty/child-monitor.c b/kitty/child-monitor.c
index d347153b2..5e9aad045 100644
--- a/kitty/child-monitor.c
+++ b/kitty/child-monitor.c
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ parse_input(ChildMonitor *self) {
         DECREF_CHILD(scratch[i]);
     }
     if (!parse_needed) {
-        timers_add(self->timers, self->repaint_delay - time_since_last_parse, false, Py_None, NULL);
+        timers_add_if_before(self->timers, self->repaint_delay - time_since_last_parse, Py_None, NULL);
     } 
 }
 
diff --git a/kitty/data-types.h b/kitty/data-types.h
index f47720cef..0b82b5cdc 100644
--- a/kitty/data-types.h
+++ b/kitty/data-types.h
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ double timers_timeout(Timers*);
 void timers_call(Timers*);
 bool timers_add(Timers *self, double delay, bool, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args);
 bool timers_add_if_missing(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args);
+bool timers_add_if_before(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args);
 bool set_iutf8(int, bool);
 
 color_type colorprofile_to_color(ColorProfile *self, color_type entry, color_type defval);
diff --git a/kitty/timers.c b/kitty/timers.c
index ccfe25d3c..0fc3efc65 100644
--- a/kitty/timers.c
+++ b/kitty/timers.c
@@ -96,10 +96,8 @@ _add(Timers *self, double at, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
     return true;
 }
 
-bool
-timers_add(Timers *self, double delay, bool update, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
-    double at = monotonic_() + delay;
-
+static inline bool
+timers_add_(Timers *self, double at, bool update, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
         if (self->events[i].callback == callback) {
             self->events[i].at = update ? at : MIN(at, self->events[i].at);
@@ -113,6 +111,11 @@ timers_add(Timers *self, double delay, bool update, PyObject *callback, PyObject
     return _add(self, at, callback, args);
 }
 
+bool
+timers_add(Timers *self, double delay, bool update, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
+    return timers_add_(self, monotonic_() + delay, update, callback, args);
+}
+
 
 static PyObject *
 add(Timers *self, PyObject *fargs) {
@@ -124,6 +127,28 @@ add(Timers *self, PyObject *fargs) {
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }
 
+bool
+timers_add_if_before(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
+    double at = monotonic_() + delay;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
+        if (self->events[i].at < at) {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+    return timers_add_(self, at, true, callback, args);
+}
+
+static PyObject *
+add_if_before(Timers *self, PyObject *fargs) {
+#define add_if_before_doc "add_if_before(delay, callback, args) -> Add callback, unless another callback scheduled before this one already exists."
+    PyObject *callback, *args = NULL;
+    double delay;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(fargs, "dO|O", &delay, &callback, &args)) return NULL; 
+
+    if (!timers_add_if_before(self, delay, callback, args)) return NULL;
+    Py_RETURN_NONE;
+}
+
 
 bool
 timers_add_if_missing(Timers *self, double delay, PyObject *callback, PyObject *args) {
@@ -188,6 +213,8 @@ timers_call(Timers *self) {
     size_t i, j;
     for (i = 0, j = 0; i < self->count; i++) {
         if (self->events[i].at <= now) {  // expired, call it
+            /* PyObject_Print(self->events[i].callback, stdout, 1); */
+            /* printf("\n"); */
             if (self->events[i].callback != Py_None) {
                 PyObject *ret = self->events[i].args ? PyObject_CallObject(self->events[i].callback, self->events[i].args) : PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(self->events[i].callback, NULL);
                 if (ret == NULL) PyErr_Print();
@@ -214,6 +241,7 @@ call(Timers *self) {
 static PyMethodDef methods[] = {
     METHOD(add, METH_VARARGS)
     METHOD(add_if_missing, METH_VARARGS)
+    METHOD(add_if_before, METH_VARARGS)
     METHOD(remove_event, METH_O)
     METHOD(timeout, METH_NOARGS)
     METHOD(call, METH_NOARGS)