diff --git a/modules/feature/spellcheck/config.el b/modules/feature/spellcheck/config.el
index 9f2158a32..c1f8b3bb6 100644
--- a/modules/feature/spellcheck/config.el
+++ b/modules/feature/spellcheck/config.el
@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
 ;;; feature/spellcheck/config.el -*- lexical-binding: t; -*-
 
+(defvar-local +spellcheck-immediately t
+  "If non-nil, spellcheck the current buffer upon starting `flyspell-mode'.
+
+Since spellchecking can be slow in some buffers, this can be disabled with:
+
+  (setq-hook! 'LaTeX-mode-hook +spellcheck-immediately nil)")
+
 (def-package! flyspell ; built-in
   :commands flyspell-mode
+  :init
+  (add-hook 'flyspell-mode-hook #'+spellcheck|immediately)
   :config
   (setq ispell-program-name (executable-find "aspell")
         ispell-list-command "--list"
         ispell-extr-args '("--dont-tex-check-comments"))
 
-  (defun +spellcheck|automatically ()
+  (defun +spellcheck|immediately ()
     "Spellcheck the buffer when `flyspell-mode' is enabled."
-    (when flyspell-mode
-      (flyspell-buffer)))
-  (add-hook 'flyspell-mode-hook #'+spellcheck|automatically))
+    (when (and flyspell-mode +spellcheck-immediately)
+      (flyspell-buffer))))
 
 
 (def-package! flyspell-correct