diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index cce4440c0..ca97b11fe 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Allow setting :opt:`active_border_color` to ``none`` to not draw a border
   around the active window (:iss:`805`)
 
+- Use negative values for :opt:`mouse_hide_wait` to hide the mouse cursor
+  immediately when pressing a key (:iss:`1534`)
+
 
 0.13.3 [2019-01-19]
 ------------------------------
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index e9cfea8bf..c13355335 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -445,9 +445,10 @@ o('click_interval', -1.0, option_type=float, long_text=_('''
 The interval between successive clicks to detect double/triple clicks (in seconds).
 Negative numbers will use the system default instead, if available, or fallback to 0.5.'''))
 
-o('mouse_hide_wait', 3.0, option_type=positive_float, long_text=_('''
+o('mouse_hide_wait', 3.0, option_type=float, long_text=_('''
 Hide mouse cursor after the specified number of seconds
-of the mouse not being used. Set to zero to disable mouse cursor hiding.'''))
+of the mouse not being used. Set to zero to disable mouse cursor hiding.
+Set to a negative value to hide the mouse cursor immediately when typing text.'''))
 
 o('focus_follows_mouse', False, long_text=_('''
 Set the active window to the window under the mouse when
diff --git a/kitty/keys.c b/kitty/keys.c
index 58e0e8781..4168f04b0 100644
--- a/kitty/keys.c
+++ b/kitty/keys.c
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ on_key_input(int key, int scancode, int action, int mods, const char* text, int
             (action == GLFW_RELEASE ? "RELEASE" : (action == GLFW_PRESS ? "PRESS" : "REPEAT")),
             mods, text, state);
     if (!w) { debug("no active window, ignoring\n"); return; }
+    if (OPT(mouse_hide_wait) < 0) hide_mouse(global_state.callback_os_window);
     Screen *screen = w->render_data.screen;
     switch(state) {
         case 1:  // update pre-edit text