diff --git a/converse.js b/converse.js
index 07593cde2..e0865331d 100644
--- a/converse.js
+++ b/converse.js
@@ -3851,14 +3851,14 @@
                 this.model.on("reset", this.reset, this);
             },
 
-            update: function () {
+            update: _.debounce(function () {
                 var $count = $('#online-count');
                 $count.text('('+converse.roster.getNumOnlineContacts()+')');
                 if (!$count.is(':visible')) {
                     $count.show();
                 }
                 return this.showHideFilter();
-            },
+            }, 300),
 
             render: function () {
                 this.$el.html(converse.templates.roster({
diff --git a/spec/profiling.js b/spec/profiling.js
index 78c167e3b..f7f742bdf 100644
--- a/spec/profiling.js
+++ b/spec/profiling.js
@@ -50,7 +50,5 @@
 
         it("contacts in a very large roster change their statuses", $.proxy(function() {
         }, converse));
-
     });
-
 }));