diff --git a/src/ui.c b/src/ui.c
index d341448..a392d71 100644
--- a/src/ui.c
+++ b/src/ui.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
     return retval;
 }
 
-#if defined(FEAT_TIMERS) || defined(PROT)
+#if defined(FEAT_TIMERS) || defined(PROTO)
 /*
  * Wait for a timer to fire or "wait_func" to return non-zero.
  * Returns OK when something was read.
@@ -221,15 +221,18 @@
     int	    due_time;
     long    remaining = wtime;
     int	    tb_change_cnt = typebuf.tb_change_cnt;
+# ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+    int	    brief_wait = TRUE;
+# endif
 
-    /* When waiting very briefly don't trigger timers. */
+    // When waiting very briefly don't trigger timers.
     if (wtime >= 0 && wtime < 10L)
 	return wait_func(wtime, NULL, ignore_input);
 
     while (wtime < 0 || remaining > 0)
     {
-	/* Trigger timers and then get the time in wtime until the next one is
-	 * due.  Wait up to that time. */
+	// Trigger timers and then get the time in wtime until the next one is
+	// due.  Wait up to that time.
 	due_time = check_due_timer();
 	if (typebuf.tb_change_cnt != tb_change_cnt)
 	{
@@ -238,11 +241,28 @@
 	}
 	if (due_time <= 0 || (wtime > 0 && due_time > remaining))
 	    due_time = remaining;
+# ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+	if ((due_time < 0 || due_time > 10L)
+#  ifdef FEAT_GUI
+		&& !gui.in_use
+#  endif
+		&& (has_pending_job() || channel_any_readahead()))
+	{
+	    // There is a pending job or channel, should return soon in order
+	    // to handle them ASAP.  Do check for input briefly.
+	    due_time = 10L;
+	    brief_wait = TRUE;
+	}
+# endif
 	if (wait_func(due_time, interrupted, ignore_input))
 	    return OK;
-	if (interrupted != NULL && *interrupted)
-	    /* Nothing available, but need to return so that side effects get
-	     * handled, such as handling a message on a channel. */
+	if ((interrupted != NULL && *interrupted)
+# ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
+		|| brief_wait
+# endif
+		)
+	    // Nothing available, but need to return so that side effects get
+	    // handled, such as handling a message on a channel.
 	    return FAIL;
 	if (wtime > 0)
 	    remaining -= due_time;
@@ -252,7 +272,7 @@
 #endif
 
 /*
- * return non-zero if a character is available
+ * Return non-zero if a character is available.
  */
     int
 ui_char_avail(void)