diff --git a/spec/keymap-manager-spec.js b/spec/keymap-manager-spec.js
index 6f8c82a..9b3ff62 100644
--- a/spec/keymap-manager-spec.js
+++ b/spec/keymap-manager-spec.js
@@ -2184,7 +2184,7 @@ describe('KeymapManager', function () {
   'ctrl-a': 'x'
 `
           )
-          keymapManager.loadKeymap(keymapFilePath, { watch: true })
+          keymapManager.loadKeymap(keymapFilePath, { watch: true, watchImmediately: true })
           subscription = keymapManager.watchSubscriptions[keymapFilePath]
           return assert.equal(
             keymapManager.findKeyBindings({ command: 'x' }).length,
@@ -2325,7 +2325,7 @@ describe('KeymapManager', function () {
             assert(!reloaded)
 
             // Can start watching again after cancelling
-            keymapManager.loadKeymap(keymapFilePath, { watch: true })
+            keymapManager.loadKeymap(keymapFilePath, { watch: true, watchImmediately: true })
             fs.writeFileSync(
               keymapFilePath,
               `\
diff --git a/src/keymap-manager.js b/src/keymap-manager.js
index 569cf8c..54b24cf 100644
--- a/src/keymap-manager.js
+++ b/src/keymap-manager.js
@@ -448,7 +448,8 @@ module.exports = KeymapManager = (function () {
           options != null ? options.priority : undefined
         )
         if (options != null ? options.watch : undefined) {
-          this.watchKeymap(bindingsPath, options)
+          const watch = () => this.watchKeymap(bindingsPath, options)
+          options.watchImmediately ? watch() : setTimeout(watch, 300)
         }
       }