diff --git a/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.cpp b/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.cpp
index c3ba8432..debcb0b4 100644
--- a/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.cpp
+++ b/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.cpp
@@ -15,9 +15,15 @@
  */
 
 #include "Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.h"
+#define UPDATE_INTERVAL 50  // milliseconds between two LED updates to avoid overloading; 20 fps
 
 namespace kaleidoscope {
 void LEDBreatheEffect::update(void) {
+  uint16_t now = millis();
+  if ((now - last_update) < UPDATE_INTERVAL)
+    return;
+  last_update = now;
+
   cRGB color = breath_compute(hue, saturation);
   ::LEDControl.set_all_leds_to(color);
 }
diff --git a/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.h b/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.h
index 8eef07ba..39fc2a55 100644
--- a/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.h
+++ b/src/Kaleidoscope-LEDEffect-Breathe.h
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ class LEDBreatheEffect : public LEDMode {
 
  protected:
   void update(void) final;
+
+ private:
+  uint16_t last_update = 0;
 };
 }