diff --git a/plugin/pythonhelper.vim b/plugin/pythonhelper.vim
index bb795eb..99b2d59 100644
--- a/plugin/pythonhelper.vim
+++ b/plugin/pythonhelper.vim
@@ -715,7 +715,12 @@ autocmd CursorHoldI * call PHCursorHold()
 autocmd BufDelete * silent call PHBufferDelete()
 
 " period of no activity after which the CursorHold event is triggered
-set updatetime=1000
+if (exists("g:pythonhelper_updatetime"))
+    let &updatetime = g:pythonhelper_updatetime
+" otherwise just return an empty string
+else
+    set updatetime=1000
+endif
 
 " }}}