diff --git a/src/text-editor-presenter.coffee b/src/text-editor-presenter.coffee
index 7bacfb466..e4305dfc4 100644
--- a/src/text-editor-presenter.coffee
+++ b/src/text-editor-presenter.coffee
@@ -269,8 +269,8 @@ class TextEditorPresenter
     @resetTrackedUpdates()
 
   updateReflowState: ->
-    @state.content.continuousReflow = @continuousReflow
-    @lineNumberGutter.continuousReflow = @continuousReflow
+    @state.content.continuousReflow = @focused and @continuousReflow
+    @lineNumberGutter.continuousReflow = @focused and @continuousReflow
 
   startReflowing: ->
     @reflowingInterval = setInterval(@emitDidUpdateState.bind(this), @minimumReflowInterval)