diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index 1d6cad83..0ff08d89 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -571,6 +571,18 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 		  "If changed, the new value applies only to new panes."
 	},
 
+	{ .name = "initial-repeat-time",
+	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_NUMBER,
+	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_SESSION,
+	  .minimum = 0,
+	  .maximum = 10000,
+	  .default_num = 0,
+	  .unit = "milliseconds",
+	  .text = "Time to wait for a key binding to repeat the first time the "
+	          "key is pressed, if it is bound with the '-r' flag. "
+	          "Subsequent presses use the 'repeat-time' option."
+	},
+
 	{ .name = "key-table",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_SESSION,
@@ -658,7 +670,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_NUMBER,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_SESSION,
 	  .minimum = 0,
-	  .maximum = SHRT_MAX,
+	  .maximum = 10000,
 	  .default_num = 500,
 	  .unit = "milliseconds",
 	  .text = "Time to wait for a key binding to repeat, if it is bound "
diff --git a/server-client.c b/server-client.c
index c7685a47..54f34948 100644
--- a/server-client.c
+++ b/server-client.c
@@ -1862,6 +1862,26 @@ server_client_update_latest(struct client *c)
 	notify_client("client-active", c);
 }
 
+/* Get repeat time. */
+static u_int
+server_client_repeat_time(struct client *c, struct key_binding *bd)
+{
+	struct session	*s = c->session;
+	u_int		 repeat, initial;
+
+	if (~bd->flags & KEY_BINDING_REPEAT)
+		return (0);
+	repeat = options_get_number(s->options, "repeat-time");
+	if (repeat == 0)
+		return (0);
+	if ((~c->flags & CLIENT_REPEAT) || bd->key != c->last_key) {
+		initial = options_get_number(s->options, "initial-repeat-time");
+		if (initial != 0)
+			repeat = initial;
+	}
+	return (repeat);
+}
+
 /*
  * Handle data key input from client. This owns and can modify the key event it
  * is given and is responsible for freeing it.
@@ -1880,7 +1900,7 @@ server_client_key_callback(struct cmdq_item *item, void *data)
 	struct timeval			 tv;
 	struct key_table		*table, *first;
 	struct key_binding		*bd;
-	int				 xtimeout;
+	u_int				 repeat;
 	uint64_t			 flags, prefix_delay;
 	struct cmd_find_state		 fs;
 	key_code			 key0, prefix, prefix2;
@@ -2036,12 +2056,13 @@ try_again:
 		 * If this is a repeating key, start the timer. Otherwise reset
 		 * the client back to the root table.
 		 */
-		xtimeout = options_get_number(s->options, "repeat-time");
-		if (xtimeout != 0 && (bd->flags & KEY_BINDING_REPEAT)) {
+		repeat = server_client_repeat_time(c, bd);
+		if (repeat != 0) {
 			c->flags |= CLIENT_REPEAT;
+			c->last_key = bd->key;
 
-			tv.tv_sec = xtimeout / 1000;
-			tv.tv_usec = (xtimeout % 1000) * 1000L;
+			tv.tv_sec = repeat / 1000;
+			tv.tv_usec = (repeat % 1000) * 1000L;
 			evtimer_del(&c->repeat_timer);
 			evtimer_add(&c->repeat_timer, &tv);
 		} else {
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 2fc8bd41..b09c2ddf 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -3689,8 +3689,10 @@ command used to switch to them from a key binding.
 The
 .Fl r
 flag indicates this key may repeat, see the
+.Ic initial-repeat-time
+and
 .Ic repeat-time
-option.
+options.
 .Fl N
 attaches a note to the key (shown with
 .Ic list-keys
@@ -4438,6 +4440,20 @@ is in milliseconds.
 Set the maximum number of lines held in window history.
 This setting applies only to new windows - existing window histories are not
 resized and retain the limit at the point they were created.
+.It Ic initial-repeat-time Ar time
+Set the time in milliseconds for the initial repeat when a key is bound with the
+.Fl r
+flag.
+This allows multiple commands to be entered without pressing the prefix key
+again.
+See also the
+.Ic repeat-time
+option.
+If
+.Ic initial-repeat-time
+is zero,
+.Ic repeat-time
+is used for the first key press.
 .It Ic key-table Ar key-table
 Set the default key table to
 .Ar key-table
@@ -4546,7 +4562,7 @@ This respects the
 option if it has been set.
 If off, do not renumber the windows.
 .It Ic repeat-time Ar time
-Allow multiple commands to be entered without pressing the prefix-key again
+Allow multiple commands to be entered without pressing the prefix key again
 in the specified
 .Ar time
 milliseconds (the default is 500).
@@ -4557,6 +4573,9 @@ flag to
 Repeat is enabled for the default keys bound to the
 .Ic resize-pane
 command.
+See also the
+.Ic initial-repeat-time
+option.
 .It Xo Ic set-titles
 .Op Ic on | off
 .Xc
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index b7bb03c9..f7a7c578 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1943,6 +1943,7 @@ struct client {
 	char			*exit_message;
 
 	struct key_table	*keytable;
+	key_code		 last_key;
 
 	uint64_t		 redraw_panes;