diff --git a/matrix.go b/matrix.go
index 8b9ddf1..ab0045a 100644
--- a/matrix.go
+++ b/matrix.go
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ var DefaultConfig = HardwareConfig{
 	PWMLSBNanoseconds: 130,
 	Brightness:        100,
 	ScanMode:          Progressive,
+	GPIOSlowdown:      1,
 }
 
 // HardwareConfig rgb-led-matrix configuration
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ type HardwareConfig struct {
 	ShowRefreshRate bool
 	InverseColors   bool
 
+	// Control speed of GPIO updates. Valid range is 0..3
+	GPIOSlowdown int
+
 	// Name of GPIO mapping used
 	HardwareMapping string
 }
@@ -114,6 +118,7 @@ func (c *HardwareConfig) toC() *C.struct_RGBLedMatrixOptions {
 	o.brightness = C.int(c.Brightness)
 	o.scan_mode = C.int(c.ScanMode)
 	o.hardware_mapping = C.CString(c.HardwareMapping)
+	o.gpio_slowdown = C.int(c.GPIOSlowdown)
 
 	if c.ShowRefreshRate == true {
 		C.set_show_refresh_rate(o, C.int(1))