diff --git a/explode_mbox.py b/explode_mbox.py
index a70ce66..9d8ba48 100644
--- a/explode_mbox.py
+++ b/explode_mbox.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import hashlib
 import os
 import pathlib
 import sys
+import time
 import typing
 
 DEBUG = os.environ.get("DEBUG") == "enabled"
@@ -12,6 +13,13 @@ def main(sysargs=sys.argv[:]) -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
     parser.add_argument("mbox", type=argparse.FileType("rb"))
     parser.add_argument("output_directory", type=pathlib.Path)
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "-s",
+        "--zzz",
+        default=0.005,
+        type=float,
+        help="sleep seconds in between messages",
+    )
 
     args = parser.parse_args(sysargs[1:])
 
@@ -23,6 +31,7 @@ def main(sysargs=sys.argv[:]) -> int:
         dest.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         print(f"writing message to {dest}")
         dest.write_bytes(msg.as_bytes())
+        time.sleep(args.zzz)
     return 0