diff --git a/src/ALabel.cpp b/src/ALabel.cpp
index f7a98329..5db03457 100644
--- a/src/ALabel.cpp
+++ b/src/ALabel.cpp
@@ -25,8 +25,14 @@ ALabel::ALabel(const Json::Value& config, const std::string& name, const std::st
                     ? std::chrono::milliseconds::max()
                     : std::chrono::milliseconds(
                           (config_["interval"].isNumeric()
-                               ? std::max(1L,  // Minimum 1ms due to millisecond precision
-                                          static_cast<long>(config_["interval"].asDouble() * 1000))
+                               ? (config_["interval"].asDouble() > 0
+                                      // Minimum 1ms due to millisecond precision
+                                      ? std::max(1L, static_cast<long>(
+                                                         config_["interval"].asDouble() * 1000))
+                                      // An explicit interval of 0 means "no periodic refresh"
+                                      // (event-driven only). Flooring it to 1ms busy-loops the
+                                      // main thread; keep it as the 0 sentinel (see custom.cpp).
+                                      : 0L)
                                : 1000 * (long)interval))),
       default_format_(format_) {
   label_.set_name(name);