diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/lib.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/lib.lua
index f383e4c6..e4fefb6d 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/lib.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/lib.lua
@@ -165,8 +165,13 @@ local function refresh_nodes(node)
   end
 end
 
+-- this variable is used to bufferize the refresh actions
+-- so only one happens every second at most
+local refreshing = false
+
 function M.refresh_tree()
-  if vim.v.exiting ~= vim.NIL then return end
+  if refreshing or vim.v.exiting ~= vim.NIL then return end
+  refreshing = true
 
   refresh_nodes(M.Tree)
 
@@ -188,6 +193,8 @@ function M.refresh_tree()
   else
     M.Tree.loaded = false
   end
+
+  vim.defer_fn(function() refreshing = false end, 1000)
 end
 
 function M.set_index_and_redraw(fname)