diff --git a/kitty/main.py b/kitty/main.py
index 8c70f87bb..19efbbea3 100644
--- a/kitty/main.py
+++ b/kitty/main.py
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ def setup_profiling(args):
 
 
 def main():
+    sys.setswitchinterval(1000.0)  # we have only a single python thread
     if isosx:
         ensure_osx_locale()
     try: