diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/action-bar.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/action-bar.tsx
index 5f86014..8aeea6d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/action-bar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/action-bar.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ import {
 	Plus,
 	Users,
 } from "lucide-react";
-import { type FormEvent, type RefObject, useState } from "react";
+import {
+	type FormEvent,
+	type RefObject,
+	useDeferredValue,
+	useState,
+} from "react";
 import type { SearchResult } from "../hooks/use-bestiary.js";
 import { cn } from "../lib/utils.js";
 import { D20Icon } from "./d20-icon.js";
@@ -270,6 +275,8 @@ export function ActionBar({
 	const [nameInput, setNameInput] = useState("");
 	const [suggestions, setSuggestions] = useState<SearchResult[]>([]);
 	const [pcMatches, setPcMatches] = useState<PlayerCharacter[]>([]);
+	const deferredSuggestions = useDeferredValue(suggestions);
+	const deferredPcMatches = useDeferredValue(pcMatches);
 	const [suggestionIndex, setSuggestionIndex] = useState(-1);
 	const [queued, setQueued] = useState<QueuedCreature | null>(null);
 	const [customInit, setCustomInit] = useState("");
@@ -394,7 +401,8 @@ export function ActionBar({
 		}
 	};
 
-	const hasSuggestions = suggestions.length > 0 || pcMatches.length > 0;
+	const hasSuggestions =
+		deferredSuggestions.length > 0 || deferredPcMatches.length > 0;
 
 	const handleKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
 		if (!hasSuggestions) return;
@@ -495,10 +503,10 @@ export function ActionBar({
 								)}
 							</button>
 						)}
-						{browseMode && suggestions.length > 0 && (
+						{browseMode && deferredSuggestions.length > 0 && (
 							<div className="absolute bottom-full z-50 mb-1 w-full rounded-md border border-border bg-card shadow-lg">
 								<ul className="max-h-48 overflow-y-auto py-1">
-									{suggestions.map((result, i) => (
+									{deferredSuggestions.map((result, i) => (
 										<li key={creatureKey(result)}>
 											<button
 												type="button"
@@ -524,8 +532,8 @@ export function ActionBar({
 						{!browseMode && hasSuggestions && (
 							<AddModeSuggestions
 								nameInput={nameInput}
-								suggestions={suggestions}
-								pcMatches={pcMatches}
+								suggestions={deferredSuggestions}
+								pcMatches={deferredPcMatches}
 								suggestionIndex={suggestionIndex}
 								queued={queued}
 								onDismiss={dismissSuggestions}