--- a/buffy.c.orig	2015-12-15 19:11:10.949983000 +0100
+++ b/buffy.c	2015-12-15 19:11:10.963818000 +0100
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "mx.h"
 
 #include "mutt_curses.h"
+#include "sidebar.h"
 
 #ifdef USE_IMAP
 #include "imap.h"
@@ -602,19 +603,28 @@
       {
       case M_MBOX:
       case M_MMDF:
-	buffy_mbox_update (tmp, &sb);
+	if (sidebar_should_refresh()) {
+	  buffy_mbox_update (tmp, &sb);
+	  sidebar_updated();
+	}
 	if (buffy_mbox_hasnew (tmp, &sb) > 0)
 	  BuffyCount++;
 	break;
 
       case M_MAILDIR:
-	buffy_maildir_update (tmp);
+	if (sidebar_should_refresh()) {
+	  buffy_maildir_update (tmp);
+	  sidebar_updated();
+ 	}
 	if (buffy_maildir_hasnew (tmp) > 0)
 	  BuffyCount++;
 	break;
 
       case M_MH:
-	mh_buffy_update (tmp->path, &tmp->msgcount, &tmp->msg_unread, &tmp->msg_flagged, &tmp->sb_last_checked);
+	if (sidebar_should_refresh()) {
+	  mh_buffy_update (tmp->path, &tmp->msgcount, &tmp->msg_unread, &tmp->msg_flagged, &tmp->sb_last_checked);
+	  sidebar_updated();
+ 	}
         mh_buffy(tmp);
 	if (tmp->new)
 	  BuffyCount++;
Index: mutt/globals.h
===================================================================
--- a/globals.h.orig	2015-12-15 19:11:10.951646000 +0100
+++ b/globals.h	2015-12-15 19:11:10.963953000 +0100
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@
 WHERE struct buffy_t *CurBuffy INITVAL(0);
 WHERE short DrawFullLine INITVAL(0);
 WHERE short SidebarWidth;
+WHERE short SidebarRefresh;
+WHERE short SidebarLastRefresh;
 #ifdef USE_IMAP
 WHERE short ImapKeepalive;
 WHERE short ImapPipelineDepth;
Index: mutt/init.h
===================================================================
--- a/init.h.orig	2015-12-15 19:11:10.954277000 +0100
+++ b/init.h	2015-12-15 19:11:10.966235000 +0100
@@ -2042,6 +2042,12 @@
   ** .pp
   ** The width of the sidebar.
   */
+  { "sidebar_refresh", DT_NUM, R_BOTH, UL &SidebarRefresh, 60 },
+  /*
+  ** .pp
+  ** Do not refresh sidebar in less than $sidebar_refresh seconds,
+  ** (0 disables refreshing).
+  */
   { "sidebar_shortpath", DT_BOOL, R_BOTH, OPTSIDEBARSHORTPATH, 0 },
   /*
   ** .pp
Index: mutt/sidebar.c
===================================================================
--- a/sidebar.c.orig	2015-12-15 19:11:10.959133000 +0100
+++ b/sidebar.c	2015-12-15 19:11:10.966747000 +0100
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@
                 saveSidebarWidth = SidebarWidth;
                 if(!option(OPTSIDEBAR)) SidebarWidth = 0;
                 initialized = true;
+		SidebarLastRefresh = time(NULL);
         }
 
         /* save or restore the value SidebarWidth */
@@ -417,3 +418,16 @@
 	draw_sidebar(menu);
 }
 
+int sidebar_should_refresh()
+{
+	if (option(OPTSIDEBAR) && SidebarRefresh > 0) {
+		if (time(NULL) - SidebarLastRefresh >= SidebarRefresh)
+			return 1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+void sidebar_updated()
+{
+	SidebarLastRefresh = time(NULL);
+}
+
Index: mutt/sidebar.h
===================================================================
--- a/sidebar.h.orig	2015-12-15 19:11:10.959229000 +0100
+++ b/sidebar.h	2015-12-15 19:11:10.966962000 +0100
@@ -32,5 +32,7 @@
 void scroll_sidebar(int, int);
 void set_curbuffy(char*);
 void set_buffystats(CONTEXT*);
+int sidebar_should_refresh();
+void sidebar_updated();
 
 #endif /* SIDEBAR_H */