diff --git a/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py b/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
index 9314229..dbdbc79 100644
--- a/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
+++ b/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
@@ -369,6 +369,12 @@ class Interface(object):
     def _refresh(self, widget=None):
         """Request a refresh. *widget* is the widget that called this
         function (we basically ignore it.)"""
+
+        # disable the refresh from the menu, so we don't get duplicate
+        # results.
+        refresh = self._action_group.get_action('Refresh');
+        refresh.set_property('sensitive', False)
+
         if self._refresh_id:
             # "De-queue" the next refresh
             _log.debug('Dequeuing next refresh')
@@ -806,6 +812,10 @@ class Interface(object):
         self._update_statusbar(_('Auto-update disabled'))
         if self._statusicon:
             self._statusicon.set_from_pixbuf(self._images['icon-error'])
+
+        # re-enable the refresh from the menu
+        refresh = self._action_group.get_action('Refresh')
+        refresh.set_property('sensitive', True)
         return
 
     ### replies callback
@@ -835,6 +845,9 @@ class Interface(object):
                 interval * 60 * 1000,
                 self._refresh, None)
 
+        # re-enable the refresh action
+        refresh = self._action_group.get_action('Refresh')
+        refresh.set_property('sensitive', True)
         return
 
     ### image download function