diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index c837b76..053020a 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -1,8 +1,19 @@
 const { Plugin } = require('obsidian');
 
+// a bunch of ribbon icons can attach within milliseconds of each other on
+// startup, so debounce instead of re-checking the order on every single one
+function debounce(fn, wait) {
+  let timer = null;
+  return () => {
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+    timer = setTimeout(fn, wait);
+  };
+}
+
 module.exports = class RibbonOrderLock extends Plugin {
   async onload() {
     this.settings = Object.assign({ order: [] }, await this.loadData());
+    this.debouncedEnforce = debounce(() => this.enforceOrder(), 200);
 
     this.app.workspace.onLayoutReady(() => {
       this.patchRibbon();
@@ -15,7 +26,7 @@ module.exports = class RibbonOrderLock extends Plugin {
     const ribbon = this.app.workspace.leftRibbon;
     const containerEl = ribbon.ribbonItemsEl;
 
-    this.observer = new MutationObserver(() => this.enforceOrder());
+    this.observer = new MutationObserver(() => this.debouncedEnforce());
     this.observer.observe(containerEl, { childList: true });
   }