diff --git a/src/cursor.rs b/src/cursor.rs
index ee499d0..8b5e236 100644
--- a/src/cursor.rs
+++ b/src/cursor.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ enum AnimPhase {
     Hidden,
     Show,
     NoFocus,
+    Busy,
 }
 
 struct State {
@@ -93,6 +94,14 @@ impl Cursor {
         self.state.borrow_mut().reset_to(AnimPhase::NoFocus);
     }
 
+    pub fn busy_on(&mut self) {
+        self.state.borrow_mut().reset_to(AnimPhase::Busy);
+    }
+
+    pub fn busy_off(&mut self) {
+        self.start();
+    }
+
     pub fn draw(&self,
                 ctx: &cairo::Context,
                 shell: &Shell,
@@ -102,8 +111,13 @@ impl Cursor {
                 double_width: bool,
                 bg: &Color) {
 
-        let current_point = ctx.get_current_point();
         let state = self.state.borrow();
+
+        if state.anim_phase == AnimPhase::Busy {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let current_point = ctx.get_current_point();
         ctx.set_source_rgba(1.0 - bg.0, 1.0 - bg.1, 1.0 - bg.2, 0.6 * state.alpha.0);
 
         let cursor_width = if shell.mode == NvimMode::Insert {
@@ -158,6 +172,7 @@ fn anim_step(state: &Arc<UiMutex<State>>) -> glib::Continue {
             }
         }
         AnimPhase::NoFocus => None, 
+        AnimPhase::Busy => None,
     };
 
     SHELL!(&shell = {
diff --git a/src/nvim.rs b/src/nvim.rs
index a3e9394..feac23d 100644
--- a/src/nvim.rs
+++ b/src/nvim.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ pub trait RedrawEvents {
 
     fn on_mode_change(&mut self, mode: &str) -> RepaintMode;
 
-    fn on_mouse_on(&mut self) -> RepaintMode;
+    fn on_mouse(&mut self, on: bool) -> RepaintMode;
 
-    fn on_mouse_off(&mut self) -> RepaintMode;
+    fn on_busy(&mut self, busy: bool) -> RepaintMode;
 }
 
 pub trait GuiApi {
@@ -189,8 +189,10 @@ fn call(ui: &mut Shell, method: &str, args: &Vec<Value>) -> result::Result<Repai
         "update_fg" => ui.on_update_fg(try_int!(args[0])),
         "update_sp" => ui.on_update_sp(try_int!(args[0])),
         "mode_change" => ui.on_mode_change(try_str!(args[0])),
-        "mouse_on" => ui.on_mouse_on(),
-        "mouse_off" => ui.on_mouse_off(),
+        "mouse_on" => ui.on_mouse(true),
+        "mouse_off" => ui.on_mouse(false),
+        "busy_start" => ui.on_busy(true),
+        "busy_stop" => ui.on_busy(false),
         _ => {
             println!("Event {}({:?})", method, args);
             RepaintMode::Nothing
diff --git a/src/shell.rs b/src/shell.rs
index 6b367cb..4ce1aab 100644
--- a/src/shell.rs
+++ b/src/shell.rs
@@ -636,14 +636,18 @@ impl RedrawEvents for Shell {
         RepaintMode::Area(self.model.cur_point())
     }
 
-    fn on_mouse_on(&mut self) -> RepaintMode {
-        self.mouse_enabled = true;
+    fn on_mouse(&mut self, on: bool) -> RepaintMode {
+        self.mouse_enabled = on;
         RepaintMode::Nothing
     }
 
-    fn on_mouse_off(&mut self) -> RepaintMode {
-        self.mouse_enabled = false;
-        RepaintMode::Nothing
+    fn on_busy(&mut self, busy: bool) -> RepaintMode {
+        if busy {
+            self.cursor.busy_on();
+        } else {
+            self.cursor.busy_off();
+        }
+        RepaintMode::Area(self.model.cur_point())
     }
 }