diff --git a/internal/app/app.go b/internal/app/app.go
index 9196f16..bec6900 100644
--- a/internal/app/app.go
+++ b/internal/app/app.go
@@ -77,26 +77,27 @@ type form struct {
 }
 
 type model struct {
-	client   *semble.Client
-	cache    *cache.Cache
-	screen   screen
-	mode     mode
-	loading  bool
-	spinner  spinner.Model
-	list     list.Model
-	help     help.Model
-	profile  viewport.Model
-	status   string
-	err      error
-	user     *semble.User
-	form     form
-	pages    [screenCount]int
-	pageInfo [screenCount]semble.Pagination
-	width    int
-	height   int
-	darkBg   bool
-	bg       color.Color
-	statusID int
+	client     *semble.Client
+	cache      *cache.Cache
+	screen     screen
+	mode       mode
+	loading    bool
+	formSaving bool
+	spinner    spinner.Model
+	list       list.Model
+	help       help.Model
+	profile    viewport.Model
+	status     string
+	err        error
+	user       *semble.User
+	form       form
+	pages      [screenCount]int
+	pageInfo   [screenCount]semble.Pagination
+	width      int
+	height     int
+	darkBg     bool
+	bg         color.Color
+	statusID   int
 }
 
 type errMsg error
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd {
 
 func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	var cmds []tea.Cmd
-	if m.loading {
+	if m.loading || m.formSaving {
 		var cmd tea.Cmd
 		m.spinner, cmd = m.spinner.Update(msg)
 		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	case errMsg:
 		m.loading = false
+		m.formSaving = false
 		return m, m.setError(msg)
 	case profileMsg:
 		m.loading = false
@@ -335,6 +337,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 	case createdMsg:
 		m.loading = false
+		m.formSaving = false
 		m.mode = modeList
 		cmd := m.setStatus(string(msg))
 		return m, tea.Batch(m.load(), cmd)
@@ -403,6 +406,8 @@ func (m model) footerView() string {
 	help := m.helpText()
 	if m.loading {
 		help = m.spinner.View() + " loading...  " + help
+	} else if m.formSaving {
+		help = m.spinner.View() + " saving...  " + help
 	}
 	right := ""
 	if m.err != nil {
@@ -447,9 +452,13 @@ func (m model) compactHelpText() string {
 
 func (m model) keyBindings(compact bool) []key.Binding {
 	if m.mode != modeList {
+		saveHelp := "save"
+		if m.formSaving {
+			saveHelp = "saving"
+		}
 		bindings := []key.Binding{
 			key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("tab"), key.WithHelp("tab", "field")),
-			key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("ctrl+s"), key.WithHelp("ctrl+s", "save")),
+			key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("ctrl+s"), key.WithHelp("ctrl+s", saveHelp)),
 			key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("esc"), key.WithHelp("esc", "cancel")),
 		}
 		if m.form.focus == m.selectorFocusIndex() {
diff --git a/internal/app/forms.go b/internal/app/forms.go
index c588dab..218d211 100644
--- a/internal/app/forms.go
+++ b/internal/app/forms.go
@@ -101,10 +101,13 @@ func (m model) updateForm(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 
 	switch keyMsg.String() {
 	case "esc":
+		if m.formSaving {
+			return m, nil
+		}
 		m.mode = modeList
 		return m, nil
 	case "ctrl+s":
-		return m, m.submitForm()
+		return m.beginSubmitForm()
 	case "up", "k":
 		if m.mode == modeCardForm && m.form.focus == m.selectorFocusIndex() {
 			m.moveCollectionCursor(-1)
@@ -158,11 +161,17 @@ func (m model) updateForm(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	case "tab", "shift+tab", "enter":
 		if keyMsg.String() == "enter" && m.form.focus == m.noteFocusIndex() {
-			return m, m.submitForm()
+			return m.beginSubmitForm()
+		}
+		if m.formSaving {
+			return m, nil
 		}
 		m.moveFormFocus(keyMsg.String() == "shift+tab")
 		return m, nil
 	}
+	if m.formSaving {
+		return m, nil
+	}
 	return m.updateFocusedFormComponent(msg)
 }
 
@@ -267,6 +276,9 @@ func (m model) formView() string {
 		b.WriteString(m.accessTypeSelectorView() + "\n\n")
 	}
 	b.WriteString(m.noteView(m.form.focus == m.noteFocusIndex()))
+	if m.formSaving {
+		b.WriteString("\n\n" + theme.Help.Render(m.spinner.View()+" Saving… please wait"))
+	}
 	return theme.FormPanel.Width(width).Render(strings.TrimRight(b.String(), "\n"))
 }
 
@@ -471,6 +483,16 @@ func (m model) submitForm() tea.Cmd {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m model) beginSubmitForm() (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if m.formSaving {
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	m.formSaving = true
+	m.err = nil
+	m.status = ""
+	return m, tea.Batch(m.submitForm(), m.spinner.Tick)
+}
+
 func (m model) selectedCollectionIDs() []string {
 	ids := make([]string, 0, len(m.form.selectedCollectionIDs))
 	for id := range m.form.selectedCollectionIDs {
diff --git a/internal/app/views_test.go b/internal/app/views_test.go
index 99337fd..18df2bd 100644
--- a/internal/app/views_test.go
+++ b/internal/app/views_test.go
@@ -169,3 +169,30 @@ func TestCardFormUsesCollectionPicker(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("card form should not render collection IDs text input, got %q", view)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestFormSaveShowsSavingStateAndIgnoresSecondSubmit(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newModel(nil, nil)
+	m.mode = modeCardForm
+	m.form = newCardForm()
+
+	updated, cmd := m.updateForm(tea.KeyPressMsg(tea.Key{Code: 's', Mod: tea.ModCtrl}))
+	got := updated.(model)
+	if !got.formSaving {
+		t.Fatalf("ctrl+s should enter saving state")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ctrl+s should return submit command")
+	}
+	if view := got.formView(); !strings.Contains(view, "Saving") {
+		t.Fatalf("saving form should render loading feedback, got %q", view)
+	}
+
+	updated, cmd = got.updateForm(tea.KeyPressMsg(tea.Key{Code: 's', Mod: tea.ModCtrl}))
+	got = updated.(model)
+	if !got.formSaving {
+		t.Fatalf("second ctrl+s should stay in saving state")
+	}
+	if cmd != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second ctrl+s should not submit again")
+	}
+}