diff --git a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/extras/lang/markdown.lua b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/extras/lang/markdown.lua
index 5aa9dc33..1be5b21d 100644
--- a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/extras/lang/markdown.lua
+++ b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/extras/lang/markdown.lua
@@ -82,8 +82,20 @@ return {
     config = function(_, opts)
       -- PERF: schedule to prevent headlines slowing down opening a file
       vim.schedule(function()
-        require("headlines").setup(opts)
-        require("headlines").refresh()
+        local hl = require("headlines")
+        hl.setup(opts)
+        local md = hl.config.markdown
+        hl.refresh()
+
+        -- Toggle markdown headlines on insert enter/leave
+        vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd({ "InsertEnter", "InsertLeave" }, {
+          callback = function(data)
+            if vim.bo.filetype == "markdown" then
+              hl.config.markdown = data.event == "InsertLeave" and md or nil
+              hl.refresh()
+            end
+          end,
+        })
       end)
     end,
   },