diff --git a/pqcli/ui/curses/__init__.py b/pqcli/ui/curses/__init__.py
index e87be75..1d40bec 100644
--- a/pqcli/ui/curses/__init__.py
+++ b/pqcli/ui/curses/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import argparse
 import curses
 import os
 import signal
-import time
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import FrameType
 
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@ class CursesUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
         super().__init__(roster, player, args, data)
         os.environ.setdefault("ESCDELAY", "25")
         self._screen = curses.initscr()
-        self._screen.nodelay(True)
         self._screen.keypad(True)
         curses.noecho()
         curses.curs_set(0)
@@ -87,6 +85,7 @@ class CursesUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
         self._roster_view.on_quit += self._quit
         self._view: BaseView = self._roster_view
         self._view.start()
+        self._wait_for_keys()
 
     def run(self) -> None:
         try:
@@ -98,8 +97,7 @@ class CursesUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
             while True:
                 key = self._screen.getch()
 
-                if key == curses.ERR:
-                    time.sleep(0.1)
+                if key == curses.ERR:  # the view's idle interval passed
                     self._view.idle()
                     continue
 
@@ -250,6 +248,13 @@ class CursesUserInterface(BaseUserInterface):
         self._view.stop()
         self._view = view
         self._view.start()
+        self._wait_for_keys()
+
+    def _wait_for_keys(self) -> None:
+        # getch() blocks until a key comes or the view's idle interval
+        # passes, so menus sit still and keys never wait for a tick.
+        interval = self._view.idle_interval
+        self._screen.timeout(-1 if interval is None else interval)
 
     def _create_character(
         self,
diff --git a/pqcli/ui/curses/views/base_view.py b/pqcli/ui/curses/views/base_view.py
index c9d4c7e..e530b5c 100644
--- a/pqcli/ui/curses/views/base_view.py
+++ b/pqcli/ui/curses/views/base_view.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ import curses
 
 
 class BaseView:
+    # How often idle() runs, in milliseconds; None waits for a key.
+    idle_interval: int | None = None
+
     def __init__(self, screen: curses.window) -> None:
         self.screen = screen
 
diff --git a/pqcli/ui/curses/views/game_view/__init__.py b/pqcli/ui/curses/views/game_view/__init__.py
index 2f7983a..dceb7e8 100644
--- a/pqcli/ui/curses/views/game_view/__init__.py
+++ b/pqcli/ui/curses/views/game_view/__init__.py
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ class PageScrollable(Protocol):
 
 
 class GameView(BaseView):
+    idle_interval = 100
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         screen: curses.window,