diff --git a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
index 827e49ef2..768439289 100644
--- a/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
+++ b/packages/pi-tui/src/components/editor.ts
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@ export class Editor implements Component, Focusable {
 	private autocompletePrefix: string = "";
 	private autocompleteMaxVisible: number = 5;
 
+	// Debounce for @ file autocomplete to prevent blocking the event loop
+	// with synchronous fuzzyFind calls on every keystroke
+	private autocompleteDebounceTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+	private lastAutocompleteLookupPrefix: string | null = null;
+	private static readonly AUTOCOMPLETE_DEBOUNCE_MS = 150;
+
 	// Paste tracking for large pastes
 	private pastes: Map<number, string> = new Map();
 	private pasteCounter: number = 0;
@@ -965,9 +971,10 @@ export class Editor implements Component, Focusable {
 				if (this.isInSlashCommandContext(textBeforeCursor)) {
 					this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
 				}
-				// Check if we're in an @ file reference context
+				// Check if we're in an @ file reference context (debounce to avoid
+				// blocking the event loop with synchronous fuzzyFind on every keystroke)
 				else if (textBeforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[\s])@[^\s]*$/)) {
-					this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
+					this.debouncedTriggerAutocomplete();
 				}
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -975,6 +982,23 @@ export class Editor implements Component, Focusable {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Debounced version of tryTriggerAutocomplete for @ file reference context.
+	 * Prevents synchronous fuzzyFind calls from blocking the event loop on every keystroke.
+	 */
+	private debouncedTriggerAutocomplete(): void {
+		if (this.autocompleteDebounceTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.autocompleteDebounceTimer);
+			this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = null;
+		}
+
+		this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = null;
+			this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
+			this.tui.requestRender();
+		}, Editor.AUTOCOMPLETE_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+	}
+
 	private handlePaste(pastedText: string): void {
 		this.historyIndex = -1; // Exit history browsing mode
 		this.lastAction = null;
@@ -1133,9 +1157,9 @@ export class Editor implements Component, Focusable {
 			if (this.isInSlashCommandContext(textBeforeCursor)) {
 				this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
 			}
-			// @ file reference context
+			// @ file reference context (debounced to avoid blocking event loop)
 			else if (textBeforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[\s])@[^\s]*$/)) {
-				this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
+				this.debouncedTriggerAutocomplete();
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -1440,9 +1464,9 @@ export class Editor implements Component, Focusable {
 			if (this.isInSlashCommandContext(textBeforeCursor)) {
 				this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
 			}
-			// @ file reference context
+			// @ file reference context (debounced to avoid blocking event loop)
 			else if (textBeforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[\s])@[^\s]*$/)) {
-				this.tryTriggerAutocomplete();
+				this.debouncedTriggerAutocomplete();
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -2020,6 +2044,15 @@ https://github.com/EsotericSoftware/spine-runtimes/actions/runs/19536643416/job/
 		this.autocompleteState = null;
 		this.autocompleteList = undefined;
 		this.autocompletePrefix = "";
+		this.clearAutocompleteDebounce();
+	}
+
+	private clearAutocompleteDebounce(): void {
+		if (this.autocompleteDebounceTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.autocompleteDebounceTimer);
+			this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = null;
+		}
+		this.lastAutocompleteLookupPrefix = null;
 	}
 
 	public isShowingAutocomplete(): boolean {
@@ -2034,6 +2067,38 @@ https://github.com/EsotericSoftware/spine-runtimes/actions/runs/19536643416/job/
 			return;
 		}
 
+		// Check if we're in an @ file reference context — these trigger expensive
+		// synchronous fuzzyFind calls that block the event loop. Debounce them so
+		// rapid typing doesn't cascade into dozens of blocking searches.
+		const currentLine = this.state.lines[this.state.cursorLine] || "";
+		const textBeforeCursor = currentLine.slice(0, this.state.cursorCol);
+		if (this.autocompletePrefix.startsWith("@") || textBeforeCursor.match(/(?:^|[\s])@[^\s]*$/)) {
+			this.debouncedUpdateAutocompleteSuggestions();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		this.applyAutocompleteSuggestions();
+	}
+
+	private debouncedUpdateAutocompleteSuggestions(): void {
+		// Clear any pending debounce
+		if (this.autocompleteDebounceTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(this.autocompleteDebounceTimer);
+			this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = null;
+		}
+
+		this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+			this.autocompleteDebounceTimer = null;
+			// Guard: autocomplete may have been cancelled during debounce wait
+			if (!this.autocompleteState || !this.autocompleteProvider) return;
+			this.applyAutocompleteSuggestions();
+			this.tui.requestRender();
+		}, Editor.AUTOCOMPLETE_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+	}
+
+	private applyAutocompleteSuggestions(): void {
+		if (!this.autocompleteProvider) return;
+
 		const suggestions = this.autocompleteProvider.getSuggestions(
 			this.state.lines,
 			this.state.cursorLine,