diff --git a/sdl1/pdcdisp.c b/sdl1/pdcdisp.c
index 52b751be..02351b9c 100644
--- a/sdl1/pdcdisp.c
+++ b/sdl1/pdcdisp.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "pdcsdl.h"
 
-RCSID("$Id: pdcdisp.c,v 1.29 2007/07/07 05:17:38 wmcbrine Exp $")
+RCSID("$Id: pdcdisp.c,v 1.30 2007/07/07 14:48:37 wmcbrine Exp $")
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ chtype acs_map[128] =
 
 #endif
 
+Uint32 pdc_lastupdate = 0;
+
 #define MAXRECT 200	/* maximum number of rects to queue up before
 			   an update is forced; the number was chosen
 			   arbitrarily */
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ void PDC_update_rects(void)
 		else
 			SDL_UpdateRects(pdc_screen, rectcount, uprect);
 
+		pdc_lastupdate = SDL_GetTicks();
 		rectcount = 0;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/sdl1/pdckbd.c b/sdl1/pdckbd.c
index 279c80a3..08279dc3 100644
--- a/sdl1/pdckbd.c
+++ b/sdl1/pdckbd.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "pdcsdl.h"
 
-RCSID("$Id: pdckbd.c,v 1.16 2007/06/28 18:41:46 wmcbrine Exp $")
+RCSID("$Id: pdckbd.c,v 1.17 2007/07/07 14:48:37 wmcbrine Exp $")
 
 /*man-start**************************************************************
 
@@ -119,6 +119,14 @@ void PDC_set_keyboard_binary(bool on)
 
 bool PDC_check_key(void)
 {
+	Uint32 current = SDL_GetTicks();
+
+	/* if 30 ms have passed without a screen update, or the timer
+	   has wrapped, update now */
+
+	if (current < pdc_lastupdate || ((current - pdc_lastupdate) > 30))
+		PDC_update_rects();
+
 	return SDL_PollEvent(&event);
 }
 
diff --git a/sdl1/pdcscrn.c b/sdl1/pdcscrn.c
index 7258e0c8..f9d7e70c 100644
--- a/sdl1/pdcscrn.c
+++ b/sdl1/pdcscrn.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 #include "pdcsdl.h"
 
-RCSID("$Id: pdcscrn.c,v 1.29 2007/07/07 06:51:31 wmcbrine Exp $")
+RCSID("$Id: pdcscrn.c,v 1.30 2007/07/07 14:48:37 wmcbrine Exp $")
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include "deffont.h"
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ int PDC_scr_open(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	if (pdc_own_screen)
 	{
-		if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) < 0)
+		if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO|SDL_INIT_TIMER) < 0)
 		{
 			fprintf(stderr, "Could not start SDL: %s\n", 
 				SDL_GetError());
diff --git a/sdl1/pdcsdl.h b/sdl1/pdcsdl.h
index 30b71e85..2602c6df 100644
--- a/sdl1/pdcsdl.h
+++ b/sdl1/pdcsdl.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * See the file maintain.er for details of the current maintainer.	*
  ************************************************************************/
 
-/* $Id: pdcsdl.h,v 1.13 2007/07/07 05:18:00 wmcbrine Exp $ */
+/* $Id: pdcsdl.h,v 1.14 2007/07/07 14:48:37 wmcbrine Exp $ */
 
 #include <curspriv.h>
 
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ extern bool pdc_own_screen;		/* if pdc_screen was not set
 					   responsible for (owns) it */
 extern WINDOW *pdc_lastscr;		/* how curscr looked when last
 					   updated -- only blit changes */
+extern Uint32 pdc_lastupdate;		/* time of last update, in ticks */
 
 void PDC_update_rects(void);
 void PDC_retile(void);