diff --git a/include/modules/idle_inhibitor.hpp b/include/modules/idle_inhibitor.hpp
index c7ee680..334c8e2 100644
--- a/include/modules/idle_inhibitor.hpp
+++ b/include/modules/idle_inhibitor.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 namespace waybar::modules {
 
 class IdleInhibitor : public ALabel {
+ sigc::connection       timeout_;
+
  public:
   IdleInhibitor(const std::string&, const waybar::Bar&, const Json::Value&);
   ~IdleInhibitor();
diff --git a/man/waybar-idle-inhibitor.5.scd b/man/waybar-idle-inhibitor.5.scd
index 0b0bdd0..9e8976b 100644
--- a/man/waybar-idle-inhibitor.5.scd
+++ b/man/waybar-idle-inhibitor.5.scd
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ screensaving, also known as "presentation mode".
 	typeof: double ++
 	Threshold to be used when scrolling.
 
+*timeout*: ++
+	typeof: double ++
+	The number of minutes the inhibit should last.
+
 *tooltip*: ++
 	typeof: bool ++
 	default: true ++
@@ -82,6 +86,7 @@ screensaving, also known as "presentation mode".
 	"format-icons": {
 	    "activated": "",
 	    "deactivated": ""
-	}
+	},
+	"timeout": 30.5
 }
 ```
diff --git a/src/modules/idle_inhibitor.cpp b/src/modules/idle_inhibitor.cpp
index cf79565..fed64b2 100644
--- a/src/modules/idle_inhibitor.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/idle_inhibitor.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,29 @@ bool waybar::modules::IdleInhibitor::handleToggle(GdkEventButton* const& e) {
   if (e->button == 1) {
     status = !status;
 
+    if (timeout_.connected()) {
+      /* cancel any already active timeout handler */
+      timeout_.disconnect();
+    }
+
+    if (status && config_["timeout"].isNumeric()) {
+      auto timeoutMins = config_["timeout"].asDouble();
+      int timeoutSecs = timeoutMins * 60;
+
+      timeout_ = Glib::signal_timeout().connect_seconds([]() {
+        /* intentionally not tied to a module instance lifetime
+         * as the output with `this` can be disconnected
+         */
+        spdlog::info("deactivating idle_inhibitor by timeout");
+        status = false;
+        for (auto const& module : waybar::modules::IdleInhibitor::modules) {
+          module->update();
+        }
+        /* disconnect */
+        return false;
+      }, timeoutSecs);
+    }
+
     // Make all other idle inhibitor modules update
     for (auto const& module : waybar::modules::IdleInhibitor::modules) {
       if (module != this) {