diff --git a/lua/lylla/config.lua b/lua/lylla/config.lua
index 80bd048..230576b 100644
--- a/lua/lylla/config.lua
+++ b/lua/lylla/config.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 ---@alias lylla.item.tuple {[1]: string, [2]?: string}
 
 ---@class lylla.config
----@field refresh_rate integer
+---@field refresh_rate integer|boolean
 ---@field hls table<'normal'|'visual'|'command'|'insert'|'replace'|'operator', vim.api.keyset.highlight>
 ---@field modules (lylla.item|lylla.item.tuple|string)[]
 ---@field winbar any[]
diff --git a/lua/lylla/init.lua b/lua/lylla/init.lua
index 9002c3f..9ee7ca8 100644
--- a/lua/lylla/init.lua
+++ b/lua/lylla/init.lua
@@ -87,10 +87,12 @@ function lylla.init()
   end
 
   -- TODO: only refresh visible windows
-  local refresh = config.get().refresh_rate --[[@as integer]]
-  lylla.timer:start(0, refresh, function()
-    lylla.refresh()
-  end)
+  local refresh = config.get().refresh_rate --[[@as integer|false]]
+  if refresh then
+    lylla.timer:start(0, refresh, function()
+      lylla.refresh()
+    end)
+  end
 
   lylla._init = true
 end