diff --git a/src/vegas_mode/config.py b/src/vegas_mode/config.py
index 5f0a28fa..9c598a13 100644
--- a/src/vegas_mode/config.py
+++ b/src/vegas_mode/config.py
@@ -82,6 +82,14 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
     # drawn off the render thread. See docs/OFFSCREEN_RENDERING.md.
     offscreen_prefetch: bool = True
 
+    # How long another thread may hold the GIL before the render thread's
+    # request forces it to yield, in ms, while Vegas runs. CPython's default is
+    # 5ms. Plugin rendering on the prefetch thread and plugin updates hold the
+    # GIL in Pillow and Python code, and a frame waiting its turn for 5ms at a
+    # time misses its refresh. 0 leaves the interpreter default alone.
+    # Experimental: measured with scripts/frame_soak.py before it gets a default.
+    switch_interval_ms: float = 0.0
+
     # Keep one continuous strip, extending it with the next group of plugins as
     # the scroll approaches the end, instead of composing a fresh strip and
     # swapping it in. A swap stops the motion, substitutes every pixel at once
@@ -212,6 +220,7 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
             sub_pixel_blend=bool(vegas_config.get('sub_pixel_blend', False)),
             continuous_scroll=vegas_config.get('continuous_scroll', True),
             offscreen_prefetch=bool(vegas_config.get('offscreen_prefetch', True)),
+            switch_interval_ms=float(vegas_config.get('switch_interval_ms', 0.0) or 0.0),
             extend_threshold_screens=float(
                 vegas_config.get('extend_threshold_screens', 2.0)),
             auto_trim=vegas_config.get('auto_trim', True),
@@ -254,6 +263,7 @@ class VegasModeConfig:
             'sub_pixel_blend': self.sub_pixel_blend,
             'continuous_scroll': self.continuous_scroll,
             'offscreen_prefetch': self.offscreen_prefetch,
+            'switch_interval_ms': self.switch_interval_ms,
             'extend_threshold_screens': self.extend_threshold_screens,
             'auto_trim': self.auto_trim,
             'trim_threshold': self.trim_threshold,
diff --git a/src/vegas_mode/coordinator.py b/src/vegas_mode/coordinator.py
index 5551aea4..8b63b50a 100644
--- a/src/vegas_mode/coordinator.py
+++ b/src/vegas_mode/coordinator.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ Supports three display modes per plugin:
 
 import logging
 import math
+import sys
 import time
 import threading
 from typing import Optional, Dict, Any, List, Callable, TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -280,6 +281,7 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
             # due immediately so the first sample confirms the marquee is up.
             self._fps_last_health_log = 0.0
             self._fps_was_degraded = False
+            self._apply_switch_interval()
 
         # Line up the next group immediately, so the first extension is already
         # warm rather than stalling the scroll to fetch it.
@@ -302,6 +304,8 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
                 self.stats['total_runtime_seconds'] += time.time() - self._start_time
                 self._start_time = None
 
+        self._restore_switch_interval()
+
         # Cleanup components
         self.render_pipeline.reset()
         self.stream_manager.reset()
@@ -309,6 +313,23 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
 
         logger.info("Vegas mode stopped")
 
+    def _apply_switch_interval(self) -> None:
+        """Shorten the GIL switch interval for the run; see VegasModeConfig."""
+        ms = self.vegas_config.switch_interval_ms
+        if not ms or ms <= 0:
+            return
+        if getattr(self, '_saved_switch_interval', None) is None:
+            self._saved_switch_interval = sys.getswitchinterval()
+        sys.setswitchinterval(ms / 1000.0)
+        logger.info("Vegas: GIL switch interval %.1fms (was %.1fms)",
+                    ms, self._saved_switch_interval * 1000.0)
+
+    def _restore_switch_interval(self) -> None:
+        saved = getattr(self, '_saved_switch_interval', None)
+        if saved is not None:
+            sys.setswitchinterval(saved)
+            self._saved_switch_interval = None
+
     def pause(self) -> None:
         """Pause Vegas mode (for live priority interruption)."""
         with self._state_lock:
diff --git a/test/test_vegas_switch_interval.py b/test/test_vegas_switch_interval.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4195386d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_vegas_switch_interval.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""vegas_scroll.switch_interval_ms: applied for a Vegas run, restored after."""
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent))
+
+from src.vegas_mode.config import VegasModeConfig  # noqa: E402
+from src.vegas_mode.coordinator import VegasModeCoordinator  # noqa: E402
+
+
+def _coordinator(ms):
+    c = VegasModeCoordinator.__new__(VegasModeCoordinator)
+    c.vegas_config = VegasModeConfig(switch_interval_ms=ms)
+    return c
+
+
+def test_applied_for_the_run_and_restored_after():
+    before = sys.getswitchinterval()
+    c = _coordinator(1.0)
+    try:
+        c._apply_switch_interval()
+        assert abs(sys.getswitchinterval() - 0.001) < 1e-9
+        c._apply_switch_interval()      # a second start must not lose the original
+    finally:
+        c._restore_switch_interval()
+    assert sys.getswitchinterval() == before
+
+
+def test_zero_leaves_the_interpreter_alone():
+    before = sys.getswitchinterval()
+    c = _coordinator(0.0)
+    c._apply_switch_interval()
+    c._restore_switch_interval()
+    assert sys.getswitchinterval() == before
+
+
+def test_read_from_config():
+    config = VegasModeConfig.from_config(
+        {"display": {"vegas_scroll": {"switch_interval_ms": 1}}})
+    assert config.switch_interval_ms == 1.0
+    assert VegasModeConfig.from_config({"display": {"vegas_scroll": {}}}).switch_interval_ms == 0.0