diff --git a/static/js/directives/ui/search-box/search-box.component.html b/static/js/directives/ui/search-box/search-box.component.html
index fa6b0c045..162529c52 100644
--- a/static/js/directives/ui/search-box/search-box.component.html
+++ b/static/js/directives/ui/search-box/search-box.component.html
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
   <input class="form-control" type="text" placeholder="search"
          ng-model="$ctrl.enteredQuery"
          typeahead="$ctrl.onTypeahead($event)"
+         ta-debounce="250"
          ta-display-key="name"
          ta-suggestion-tmpl="search-result-template"
          ta-clear-on-select="$ctrl.clearOnSearch"
diff --git a/static/js/directives/ui/typeahead/typeahead.directive.ts b/static/js/directives/ui/typeahead/typeahead.directive.ts
index d733d88b2..d49b6de9c 100644
--- a/static/js/directives/ui/typeahead/typeahead.directive.ts
+++ b/static/js/directives/ui/typeahead/typeahead.directive.ts
@@ -13,16 +13,19 @@ export class TypeaheadDirective implements AfterContentInit {
   @Input('taDisplayKey') displayKey: string = '';
   @Input('taSuggestionTmpl') suggestionTemplate: string = '';
   @Input('taClearOnSelect') clearOnSelect: boolean = false;
+  @Input('taDebounce') debounce: number = 250;
 
   @Output('taSelected') selected = new EventEmitter<any>();
   @Output('taEntered') entered = new EventEmitter<any>();
 
   private itemSelected: boolean = false;
+  private existingTimer: Promise = null;
 
   constructor(@Inject('$element') private $element: ng.IAugmentedJQuery,
               @Inject('$compile') private $compile: ng.ICompileService,
               @Inject('$scope') private $scope: ng.IScope,
-              @Inject('$templateRequest') private $templateRequest: ng.ITemplateRequestService) {
+              @Inject('$templateRequest') private $templateRequest: ng.ITemplateRequestService,
+              @Inject('$timeout') private $timeout: ng.ITimeoutService) {
   }
 
   public ngAfterContentInit(): void {
@@ -52,12 +55,23 @@ export class TypeaheadDirective implements AfterContentInit {
         templates: templates,
         display: this.displayKey,
         source: (query, results, asyncResults) => {
-          this.typeahead.emit({'query': query, 'callback': asyncResults});
-          this.itemSelected = false;
+          this.debounceQuery(query, asyncResults);
         },
       });
   }
 
+  private debounceQuery(query: string, asyncResults: Function): void {
+    if (this.existingTimer) {
+      this.$timeout.cancel(this.existingTimer);
+      this.existingTimer = null;
+    }
+
+    this.existingTimer = this.$timeout(() => {
+      this.typeahead.emit({'query': query, 'callback': asyncResults});
+      this.itemSelected = false;
+    }, this.debounce);
+  }
+
   @HostListener('keyup', ['$event'])
   public onKeyup(event: JQueryKeyEventObject): void {
     if (!this.itemSelected && event.keyCode == 13) {