diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/sane-input-handler/default.nix b/hosts/common/programs/sane-input-handler/default.nix
index acfe48d49..2f348cd8e 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/sane-input-handler/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/sane-input-handler/default.nix
@@ -35,10 +35,16 @@ let
     ;
     in assert terminal -> events == []; events;
 
-  # trigger ${button}_hold_N every `holdTime` ms until ${button} is released
-  recurseHold = button: { count ? 1, maxHolds ? 3, holdTime ? 1000 }@opts: {
+  # trigger ${button}_hold_N repeatedly for as long as ${button} is held.
+  # ${holdTimes[N]}: how long to wait after the N'th event before firing the event again.
+  #   if the holdTimes list has fewer items than `maxHolds`, then the list is extended by duplicating its last item.
+  recurseHold = button: { count ? 1, maxHolds ? 5, holdTimes ? [ 500 3000 ] }@opts: {
     trigger = "${button}_hold_${builtins.toString count}";
-    ms = holdTime;
+    ms = if count <= builtins.length holdTimes then
+      builtins.elemAt holdTimes (count - 1)
+    else
+      lib.last holdTimes
+    ;
   } // lib.optionalAttrs (count < maxHolds) {
     timeout = recurseHold button (opts // { count = count+1; });
     # end the hold -> back to root state
@@ -130,11 +136,11 @@ in
 
     # map: power (tap), power (tap) x2
     power_pressed.power_released.trigger = "power_tap_1";
-    power_pressed.power_released.timeout.ms = 600;  # max time within which a second power press will be recognized
+    power_pressed.power_released.timeout.ms = 750;  # max time within which a second power press will be recognized
     power_pressed.power_released.power_pressed.power_released.trigger = "power_tap_2";
     # map power (hold), power tap -> hold:
     power_pressed.timeout.trigger = "power_hold";
-    power_pressed.timeout.ms = 600;
+    power_pressed.timeout.ms = 500;
     power_pressed.power_released.power_pressed.timeout.trigger = "power_tap_1_hold";
     power_pressed.power_released.power_pressed.timeout.ms = 750;  # this is a long timeout because it's tied to the "kill window" action.