diff --git a/core/core.el b/core/core.el
index 510adf7c3..7ba0ef1d6 100644
--- a/core/core.el
+++ b/core/core.el
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ config.el instead."
 ;; The GC introduces annoying pauses and stuttering into our Emacs experience,
 ;; so we use `gcmh' to stave off the GC while we're using Emacs, and provoke it
 ;; when it's idle.
-(setq gcmh-idle-delay 5  ; default is 15s
+(setq gcmh-idle-delay 0.5  ; default is 15s
       gcmh-high-cons-threshold (* 16 1024 1024)  ; 16mb
       gcmh-verbose doom-debug-p)