diff --git a/scripts/plot.py b/scripts/plot.py
index 0bae380b..32fc62fa 100755
--- a/scripts/plot.py
+++ b/scripts/plot.py
@@ -1445,11 +1445,10 @@ def main(csv_paths, *,
                     ptime = time.time()
                     inotify.read()
                     inotify.close()
-                    # sleep for a minimum amount of time, this helps reduce
-                    # flicker issues
+                    # sleep a minimum amount of time to avoid flickering
                     time.sleep(max(0, (sleep or 0.01) - (time.time()-ptime)))
                 else:
-                    time.sleep(sleep or 0.1)
+                    time.sleep(sleep or 2)
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             pass
 
@@ -1669,7 +1668,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             '-s', '--sleep',
             type=float,
             help="Time in seconds to sleep between redraws when running "
-                "with -k. Defaults to 0.01.")
+                "with -k. Defaults to 2 seconds.")
 
     def dictify(ns):
         if hasattr(ns, 'subplots'):
diff --git a/scripts/tailpipe.py b/scripts/tailpipe.py
index e2a85379..ee3a1efa 100755
--- a/scripts/tailpipe.py
+++ b/scripts/tailpipe.py
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ def main(path='-', *,
                 event.clear()
                 with lock:
                     ring.draw()
+                # sleep a minimum amount of time to avoid flickering
                 time.sleep(sleep or 0.01)
         th.Thread(target=background, daemon=True).start()
 
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ def main(path='-', *,
             if not keep_open:
                 break
             # don't just flood open calls
-            time.sleep(sleep or 0.1)
+            time.sleep(sleep or 2)
     except FileNotFoundError as e:
         print("error: file not found %r" % path,
                 file=sys.stderr)
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser.add_argument(
             '-s', '--sleep',
             type=float,
-            help="Seconds to sleep between reads. Defaults to 0.01.")
+            help="Seconds to sleep between reads.")
     parser.add_argument(
             '-k', '--keep-open',
             action='store_true',
diff --git a/scripts/tracebd.py b/scripts/tracebd.py
index 21a5ab27..039d7b2b 100755
--- a/scripts/tracebd.py
+++ b/scripts/tracebd.py
@@ -1020,6 +1020,7 @@ def main(path='-', *,
                     draw(ring)
                     if not cat:
                         ring.draw()
+                # sleep a minimum amount of time to avoid flickering
                 time.sleep(sleep or 0.01)
         th.Thread(target=background, daemon=True).start()
 
@@ -1044,7 +1045,7 @@ def main(path='-', *,
             if not keep_open:
                 break
             # don't just flood open calls
-            time.sleep(sleep or 0.1)
+            time.sleep(sleep or 2)
     except FileNotFoundError as e:
         print("error: file not found %r" % path,
                 file=sys.stderr)
diff --git a/scripts/watch.py b/scripts/watch.py
index 90a77cc7..4d84591a 100755
--- a/scripts/watch.py
+++ b/scripts/watch.py
@@ -247,12 +247,11 @@ def main(command, *,
                 ptime = time.time()
                 inotify.read()
                 inotify.close()
-                # sleep for a minimum amount of time, this helps reduce
-                # flicker issues
+                # sleep a minimum amount of time to avoid flickering
                 time.sleep(max(0, (sleep or 0.01) - (time.time()-ptime)))
             # or sleep
             else:
-                time.sleep(sleep or 0.1)
+                time.sleep(sleep or 2)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         pass
 
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser.add_argument(
             '-s', '--sleep',
             type=float,
-            help="Seconds to sleep between runs. Defaults to 0.1.")
+            help="Seconds to sleep between runs. Defaults to 2 seconds.")
     parser.add_argument(
             '-k', '--keep-open',
             action='store_true',