diff --git a/src/command/command.c b/src/command/command.c
index f2ceaa82..ddcdf573 100644
--- a/src/command/command.c
+++ b/src/command/command.c
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ static char * _affiliation_autocomplete(char *input, int *size);
 static char * _role_autocomplete(char *input, int *size);
 static char * _resource_autocomplete(char *input, int *size);
 static char * _titlebar_autocomplete(char *input, int *size);
+static char * _inpblock_autocomplete(char *input, int *size);
 
 GHashTable *commands = NULL;
 
@@ -623,14 +624,18 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
           NULL } } },
 
     { "/inpblock",
-        cmd_inpblock, parse_args, 1, 1, &cons_inpblock_setting,
-        { "/inpblock millis", "Input blocking delay.",
-        { "/inpblock millis",
-          "----------------",
-          "Time to wait in milliseconds before reading input from the terminal buffer, defaults to 20.",
-          "Valid values are 1-1000.",
-          "A higher value will result in less CPU usage, but a noticable delay for response to input.",
-          "A lower value will result in higher CPU usage, but faster response to input.",
+        cmd_inpblock, parse_args, 2, 2, &cons_inpblock_setting,
+        { "/inpblock timeout|dynamic [millis|on|off]", "Input blocking delay (dynamic or static).",
+        { "/inpblock timeout|dynamic [millis|on|off]",
+          "-----------------------------------------",
+          "How long to wait for input before checking for new messages or checking for state changes such as 'idle'.",
+          "timeout : Time to wait in milliseconds before reading input from the terminal buffer, defaults to 500.",
+          "        : Valid values are 1-1000.",
+          "dynamic : Start with a 0 timeout and increase the value dynamically up to the specified 'timeout'.",
+          "        : on|off",
+          "A higher timeout will result in less CPU usage, but a noticable delay for response to input.",
+          "A lower timeout will result in higher CPU usage, but faster response to input.",
+          "Using the dynamic setting, higher CPU usage will occur during activity, but over time the CPU usage will decrease whilst there is no activity.",
           NULL } } },
 
     { "/notify",
@@ -1114,6 +1119,7 @@ static Autocomplete occupants_ac;
 static Autocomplete occupants_default_ac;
 static Autocomplete time_ac;
 static Autocomplete resource_ac;
+static Autocomplete inpblock_ac;
 
 /*
  * Initialise command autocompleter and history
@@ -1464,6 +1470,10 @@ cmd_init(void)
     autocomplete_add(resource_ac, "title");
     autocomplete_add(resource_ac, "message");
 
+    inpblock_ac = autocomplete_new();
+    autocomplete_add(inpblock_ac, "timeout");
+    autocomplete_add(inpblock_ac, "dynamic");
+
     cmd_history_init();
 }
 
@@ -1520,6 +1530,7 @@ cmd_uninit(void)
     autocomplete_free(occupants_default_ac);
     autocomplete_free(time_ac);
     autocomplete_free(resource_ac);
+    autocomplete_free(inpblock_ac);
 }
 
 gboolean
@@ -1688,6 +1699,7 @@ cmd_reset_autocomplete()
     autocomplete_reset(occupants_default_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(time_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(resource_ac);
+    autocomplete_reset(inpblock_ac);
 
     if (ui_current_win_type() == WIN_CHAT) {
         ProfChatWin *chatwin = wins_get_current_chat();
@@ -2008,6 +2020,7 @@ _cmd_complete_parameters(char *input, int *size)
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/role",          _role_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/resource",      _resource_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/titlebar",      _titlebar_autocomplete);
+    g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/inpblock",      _inpblock_autocomplete);
 
     char parsed[*size+1];
     i = 0;
@@ -2513,6 +2526,24 @@ _titlebar_autocomplete(char *input, int *size)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static char *
+_inpblock_autocomplete(char *input, int *size)
+{
+    char *found = NULL;
+
+    found = autocomplete_param_with_func(input, size, "/inpblock dynamic", prefs_autocomplete_boolean_choice);
+    if (found != NULL) {
+        return found;
+    }
+
+    found = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, size, "/inpblock", inpblock_ac, FALSE);
+    if (found != NULL) {
+        return found;
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static char *
 _form_autocomplete(char *input, int *size)
 {
diff --git a/src/command/commands.c b/src/command/commands.c
index fba32b8b..18011454 100644
--- a/src/command/commands.c
+++ b/src/command/commands.c
@@ -3450,13 +3450,41 @@ cmd_notify(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
 gboolean
 cmd_inpblock(gchar **args, struct cmd_help_t help)
 {
-    char *value = args[0];
+    char *subcmd = args[0];
+    char *value = args[1];
     int intval;
-    if (_strtoi(value, &intval, 1, 1000) == 0) {
-        cons_show("Input blocking set to %d milliseconds.", intval);
-        prefs_set_inpblock(intval);
-        ui_input_nonblocking();
+
+    if (g_strcmp0(subcmd, "timeout") == 0) {
+        if (value == NULL) {
+            cons_show("Usage: %s", help.usage);
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        if (_strtoi(value, &intval, 1, 1000) == 0) {
+            cons_show("Input blocking set to %d milliseconds.", intval);
+            prefs_set_inpblock(intval);
+            ui_input_nonblocking(FALSE);
+        }
+
+        return TRUE;
     }
+
+    if (g_strcmp0(subcmd, "dynamic") == 0) {
+        if (value == NULL) {
+            cons_show("Usage: %s", help.usage);
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        if (g_strcmp0(value, "on") != 0 && g_strcmp0(value, "off") != 0) {
+            cons_show("Dynamic must be one of 'on' or 'off'");
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        return _cmd_set_boolean_preference(value, help, "Dynamic input blocking", PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC);
+    }
+
+    cons_show("Usage: %s", help.usage);
+
     return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index 6e7ab576..5b683426 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -531,6 +531,7 @@ _get_group(preference_t pref)
         case PREF_ROSTER_BY:
         case PREF_RESOURCE_TITLE:
         case PREF_RESOURCE_MESSAGE:
+        case PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC:
             return PREF_GROUP_UI;
         case PREF_STATES:
         case PREF_OUTTYPE:
@@ -672,6 +673,8 @@ _get_key(preference_t pref)
             return "resource.title";
         case PREF_RESOURCE_MESSAGE:
             return "resource.message";
+        case PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC:
+            return "inpblock.dynamic";
         default:
             return NULL;
     }
@@ -696,6 +699,7 @@ _get_default_boolean(preference_t pref)
         case PREF_MUC_PRIVILEGES:
         case PREF_PRESENCE:
         case PREF_WRAP:
+        case PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC:
             return TRUE;
         default:
             return FALSE;
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index a0ad2f84..9590eb64 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ typedef enum {
     PREF_OTR_WARN,
     PREF_OTR_POLICY,
     PREF_RESOURCE_TITLE,
-    PREF_RESOURCE_MESSAGE
+    PREF_RESOURCE_MESSAGE,
+    PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC
 } preference_t;
 
 typedef struct prof_alias_t {
diff --git a/src/profanity.c b/src/profanity.c
index 18bcc5f9..b28eae20 100644
--- a/src/profanity.c
+++ b/src/profanity.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ prof_run(const int disable_tls, char *log_level, char *account_name)
 {
     _init(disable_tls, log_level);
     log_info("Starting main event loop");
-    ui_input_nonblocking();
+    ui_input_nonblocking(TRUE);
     GTimer *timer = g_timer_new();
     gboolean cmd_result = TRUE;
     jabber_conn_status_t conn_status = jabber_get_connection_status();
diff --git a/src/ui/console.c b/src/ui/console.c
index d219a175..8d1f3173 100644
--- a/src/ui/console.c
+++ b/src/ui/console.c
@@ -1182,7 +1182,12 @@ cons_show_chat_prefs(void)
 void
 cons_inpblock_setting(void)
 {
-    cons_show("Input block (/inpblock)       : %d milliseconds", prefs_get_inpblock());
+    cons_show("Input timeout (/inpblock)     : %d milliseconds", prefs_get_inpblock());
+    if (prefs_get_boolean(PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC)) {
+        cons_show("Dynamic timeout (/inpblock)   : ON");
+    } else {
+        cons_show("Dynamic timeout (/inpblock)   : OFF");
+    }
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/ui/core.c b/src/ui/core.c
index be16dfad..e0f46f6e 100644
--- a/src/ui/core.c
+++ b/src/ui/core.c
@@ -180,7 +180,11 @@ ui_get_char(char *input, int *size, int *result)
     wint_t ch = inp_get_char(input, size, result);
     if (ch != ERR && *result != ERR) {
         ui_reset_idle_time();
+        ui_input_nonblocking(TRUE);
+    } else {
+        ui_input_nonblocking(FALSE);
     }
+
     return ch;
 }
 
@@ -197,9 +201,34 @@ ui_replace_input(char *input, const char * const new_input, int *size)
 }
 
 void
-ui_input_nonblocking(void)
+ui_input_nonblocking(gboolean reset)
 {
-    inp_non_block();
+    static gint timeout = 0;
+    static gint no_input_count = 0;
+
+    if (! prefs_get_boolean(PREF_INPBLOCK_DYNAMIC)) {
+        inp_non_block(prefs_get_inpblock());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (reset) {
+        timeout = 0;
+        no_input_count = 0;
+    }
+
+    if (timeout < prefs_get_inpblock()) {
+        no_input_count++;
+
+        if (no_input_count % 10 == 0) {
+            timeout += no_input_count;
+
+            if (timeout > prefs_get_inpblock()) {
+                timeout = prefs_get_inpblock();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    inp_non_block(timeout);
 }
 
 void
@@ -2218,7 +2247,7 @@ ui_ask_password(void)
   status_bar_update_virtual();
   inp_block();
   inp_get_password(passwd);
-  inp_non_block();
+  inp_non_block(prefs_get_inpblock());
 
   return passwd;
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/inputwin.c b/src/ui/inputwin.c
index 19318745..a6877a86 100644
--- a/src/ui/inputwin.c
+++ b/src/ui/inputwin.c
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ inp_win_resize(void)
 }
 
 void
-inp_non_block(void)
+inp_non_block(gint timeout)
 {
-    wtimeout(inp_win, prefs_get_inpblock());
+    wtimeout(inp_win, timeout);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/ui/inputwin.h b/src/ui/inputwin.h
index eae20a51..b5a26c10 100644
--- a/src/ui/inputwin.h
+++ b/src/ui/inputwin.h
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ wint_t inp_get_char(char *input, int *size, int *result);
 void inp_win_reset(void);
 void inp_win_resize(void);
 void inp_put_back(void);
-void inp_non_block(void);
+void inp_non_block(gint);
 void inp_block(void);
 void inp_get_password(char *passwd);
 void inp_replace_input(char *input, const char * const new_input, int *size);
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/src/ui/ui.h b/src/ui/ui.h
index 32484b9e..e28914ff 100644
--- a/src/ui/ui.h
+++ b/src/ui/ui.h
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ void ui_statusbar_new(const int win);
 
 wint_t ui_get_char(char *input, int *size, int *result);
 void ui_input_clear(void);
-void ui_input_nonblocking(void);
+void ui_input_nonblocking(gboolean);
 void ui_replace_input(char *input, const char * const new_input, int *size);
 
 void ui_invalid_command_usage(const char * const usage, void (*setting_func)(void));
diff --git a/src/ui/window.c b/src/ui/window.c
index caef36df..3a45ab01 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.c
+++ b/src/ui/window.c
@@ -740,6 +740,8 @@ win_save_print(ProfWin *window, const char show_char, GTimeVal *tstamp,
 
     buffer_push(window->layout->buffer, show_char, time, flags, theme_item, from, message);
     _win_print(window, show_char, time, flags, theme_item, from, message);
+    // TODO: cross-reference.. this should be replaced by a real event-based system
+    ui_input_nonblocking(TRUE);
 }
 
 void
@@ -952,4 +954,4 @@ win_printline_nowrap(WINDOW *win, char *msg)
     waddnstr(win, msg, maxx);
 
     wmove(win, cury+1, 0);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/stub_ui.c b/tests/ui/stub_ui.c
index ef0778d0..76b71265 100644
--- a/tests/ui/stub_ui.c
+++ b/tests/ui/stub_ui.c
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ wint_t ui_get_char(char *input, int *size, int *result)
 }
 
 void ui_input_clear(void) {}
-void ui_input_nonblocking(void) {}
+void ui_input_nonblocking(gboolean reset) {}
 void ui_replace_input(char *input, const char * const new_input, int *size) {}
 
 void ui_invalid_command_usage(const char * const usage, void (*setting_func)(void)) {}