diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index df7b7a6..ba4af26 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -5976,6 +5976,8 @@
     ds->dpy_update = dumb_update;
     ds->dpy_resize = dumb_resize;
     ds->dpy_refresh = dumb_refresh;
+    ds->gui_timer_interval = 500;
+    ds->idle = 1;
 }
 
 /***********************************************************/