diff --git a/internal/cfg/cfg.go b/internal/cfg/cfg.go
index 0c8ae33..0e9fd29 100644
--- a/internal/cfg/cfg.go
+++ b/internal/cfg/cfg.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 	SKIP_IMPORT_ENV               = "KOITO_SKIP_IMPORT"
 	ALLOWED_HOSTS_ENV             = "KOITO_ALLOWED_HOSTS"
 	DISABLE_RATE_LIMIT_ENV        = "KOITO_DISABLE_RATE_LIMIT"
+	THROTTLE_IMPORTS_MS           = "KOITO_THROTTLE_IMPORTS_MS"
 )
 
 type config struct {
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ type config struct {
 	allowedHosts         []string
 	allowAllHosts        bool
 	disableRateLimit     bool
+	importThrottleMs     int
 }
 
 var (
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ func loadConfig(getenv func(string) string) (*config, error) {
 		cfg.lbzRelayUrl = getenv(LBZ_RELAY_URL_ENV)
 	}
 
+	cfg.importThrottleMs, _ = strconv.Atoi(getenv(THROTTLE_IMPORTS_MS))
+
 	cfg.disableRateLimit = parseBool(getenv(DISABLE_RATE_LIMIT_ENV))
 
 	cfg.structuredLogging = parseBool(getenv(ENABLE_STRUCTURED_LOGGING_ENV))
@@ -278,3 +282,9 @@ func RateLimitDisabled() bool {
 	defer lock.RUnlock()
 	return globalConfig.disableRateLimit
 }
+
+func ThrottleImportMs() int {
+	lock.RLock()
+	defer lock.RUnlock()
+	return globalConfig.importThrottleMs
+}
diff --git a/internal/importer/maloja.go b/internal/importer/maloja.go
index 392f254..a4d1e53 100644
--- a/internal/importer/maloja.go
+++ b/internal/importer/maloja.go
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ func ImportMalojaFile(ctx context.Context, store db.DB, filename string) error {
 		l.Err(err).Msgf("Failed to read import file: %s", filename)
 		return err
 	}
+	var throttleFunc = func() {}
+	if ms := cfg.ThrottleImportMs(); ms > 0 {
+		throttleFunc = func() {
+			time.Sleep(time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}
 	export := new(MalojaExport)
 	err = json.NewDecoder(file).Decode(&export)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -73,6 +79,7 @@ func ImportMalojaFile(ctx context.Context, store db.DB, filename string) error {
 			l.Err(err).Msg("Failed to import maloja playback item")
 			return err
 		}
+		throttleFunc()
 	}
 	_, err = os.Stat(path.Join(cfg.ConfigDir(), "import_complete"))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/importer/spotify.go b/internal/importer/spotify.go
index d79feed..275d47e 100644
--- a/internal/importer/spotify.go
+++ b/internal/importer/spotify.go
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ func ImportSpotifyFile(ctx context.Context, store db.DB, filename string) error
 		l.Err(err).Msgf("Failed to read import file: %s", filename)
 		return err
 	}
+	var throttleFunc = func() {}
+	if ms := cfg.ThrottleImportMs(); ms > 0 {
+		throttleFunc = func() {
+			time.Sleep(time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}
 	export := make([]SpotifyExportItem, 0)
 	err = json.NewDecoder(file).Decode(&export)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -59,6 +65,7 @@ func ImportSpotifyFile(ctx context.Context, store db.DB, filename string) error
 			l.Err(err).Msg("Failed to import spotify playback item")
 			return err
 		}
+		throttleFunc()
 	}
 	_, err = os.Stat(path.Join(cfg.ConfigDir(), "import_complete"))
 	if err != nil {