diff --git a/src/nvim/main.c b/src/nvim/main.c
index 387523c571..5c1e415cb7 100644
--- a/src/nvim/main.c
+++ b/src/nvim/main.c
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ static bool event_teardown(void)
 /// Needed for unit tests.
 void early_init(mparm_T *paramp)
 {
+  os_hint_priority();
   estack_init();
   cmdline_init();
   eval_init();          // init global variables
diff --git a/src/nvim/os/env.c b/src/nvim/os/env.c
index 21da64a1ee..940d2236a7 100644
--- a/src/nvim/os/env.c
+++ b/src/nvim/os/env.c
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@
 # include "nvim/fileio.h"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+# include <mach/task.h>
+#endif
+
 #ifdef HAVE__NSGETENVIRON
 # include <crt_externs.h>
 #endif
@@ -352,6 +356,18 @@ int64_t os_get_pid(void)
 #endif
 }
 
+/// Signals to the OS that Nvim is an application for "interactive work"
+/// which should be prioritized similar to a GUI app.
+void os_hint_priority(void)
+{
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+  // By default, processes have the TASK_UNSPECIFIED "role", which means all of its threads are
+  // clamped to Default QoS. Setting the role to TASK_DEFAULT_APPLICATION removes this clamp.
+  integer_t policy = TASK_DEFAULT_APPLICATION;
+  task_policy_set(mach_task_self(), TASK_CATEGORY_POLICY, &policy, 1);
+#endif
+}
+
 /// Gets the hostname of the current machine.
 ///
 /// @param hostname   Buffer to store the hostname.