diff --git a/internal_packages/unread-notifications/lib/main.es6 b/internal_packages/unread-notifications/lib/main.es6
index 99181ac24..e99e28448 100644
--- a/internal_packages/unread-notifications/lib/main.es6
+++ b/internal_packages/unread-notifications/lib/main.es6
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ export class Notifier {
         }
         if (!this.hasScheduledNotify) {
           if (NylasEnv.config.get("core.notifications.sounds")) {
-            SoundRegistry.playSound('new-mail');
+            this._playNewMailSound = this._playNewMailSound || _.debounce(() => SoundRegistry.playSound('new-mail'), 5000, true);
+            this._playNewMailSound();
           }
           this._notifyMessages();
         }