diff --git a/include/SDL_hints.h b/include/SDL_hints.h
index cd4d4ead3..fd55a55d2 100644
--- a/include/SDL_hints.h
+++ b/include/SDL_hints.h
@@ -1042,6 +1042,21 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 #define SDL_HINT_EMSCRIPTEN_KEYBOARD_ELEMENT   "SDL_EMSCRIPTEN_KEYBOARD_ELEMENT"
 
+/**
+ *  \brief Disable giving back control to the browser automatically
+ *  when running with asyncify
+ *
+ * With -s ASYNCIFY, SDL2 calls emscripten_sleep during operations
+ * such as refreshing the screen or polling events.
+ *
+ * This hint only applies to the emscripten platform
+ *
+ * The variable can be set to the following values:
+ *    "0"       - Disable emscripten_sleep calls (if you give back browser control manually or use asyncify for other purposes)
+ *    "1"       - Enable emscripten_sleep calls (the default)
+ */
+#define SDL_HINT_EMSCRIPTEN_ASYNCIFY   "SDL_EMSCRIPTEN_ASYNCIFY"
+
 /**
  *  \brief Tell SDL not to catch the SIGINT or SIGTERM signals.
  *
diff --git a/src/timer/unix/SDL_systimer.c b/src/timer/unix/SDL_systimer.c
index 7a44d0520..bfe0fc40d 100644
--- a/src/timer/unix/SDL_systimer.c
+++ b/src/timer/unix/SDL_systimer.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 #include "SDL_timer.h"
 #include "SDL_assert.h"
+#include "SDL_hints.h"
 #include "../SDL_timer_c.h"
 
 #ifdef __EMSCRIPTEN__
@@ -191,8 +192,8 @@ void
 SDL_Delay(Uint32 ms)
 {
 #ifdef __EMSCRIPTEN__
-    if (emscripten_has_asyncify()) {
-        /* pseudo-synchronous pause */
+    if (emscripten_has_asyncify() && SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_EMSCRIPTEN_ASYNCIFY, SDL_TRUE)) {
+        /* pseudo-synchronous pause, used directly or through e.g. SDL_WaitEvent */
         emscripten_sleep(ms);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenframebuffer.c b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenframebuffer.c
index 5c845fdef..62193b910 100644
--- a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenframebuffer.c
+++ b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenframebuffer.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 #include "SDL_emscriptenvideo.h"
 #include "SDL_emscriptenframebuffer.h"
+#include "SDL_hints.h"
 
 
 int Emscripten_CreateWindowFramebuffer(_THIS, SDL_Window * window, Uint32 * format, void ** pixels, int *pitch)
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ int Emscripten_UpdateWindowFramebuffer(_THIS, SDL_Window * window, const SDL_Rec
         SDL_SaveBMP(surface, file);
     }*/
 
-    if (emscripten_has_asyncify()) {
+    if (emscripten_has_asyncify() && SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_EMSCRIPTEN_ASYNCIFY, SDL_TRUE)) {
         /* give back control to browser for screen refresh */
         emscripten_sleep(0);
     }
diff --git a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenopengles.c b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenopengles.c
index 3852fc7bd..6544bc613 100644
--- a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenopengles.c
+++ b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenopengles.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #include "SDL_emscriptenvideo.h"
 #include "SDL_emscriptenopengles.h"
+#include "SDL_hints.h"
 
 #define LOAD_FUNC(NAME) _this->egl_data->NAME = NAME;
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ int
 Emscripten_GLES_SwapWindow(_THIS, SDL_Window * window)
 {
     EGLBoolean ret = SDL_EGL_SwapBuffers(_this, ((SDL_WindowData *) window->driverdata)->egl_surface);
-    if (emscripten_has_asyncify()) {
+    if (emscripten_has_asyncify() && SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_EMSCRIPTEN_ASYNCIFY, SDL_TRUE)) {
         /* give back control to browser for screen refresh */
         emscripten_sleep(0);
     }