diff --git a/src/addNavigationHelpers.js b/src/addNavigationHelpers.js
index d7c468bc52..f1042edcdb 100644
--- a/src/addNavigationHelpers.js
+++ b/src/addNavigationHelpers.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import type {
 import NavigationActions from './NavigationActions';
 
 export default function<S: *>(navigation: NavigationProp<S, NavigationAction>) {
+  let debounce = true;
   return {
     ...navigation,
     goBack: (key?: ?string): boolean =>
@@ -25,14 +26,27 @@ export default function<S: *>(navigation: NavigationProp<S, NavigationAction>) {
       routeName: string,
       params?: NavigationParams,
       action?: NavigationAction,
-    ): boolean =>
-      navigation.dispatch(
-        NavigationActions.navigate({
-          routeName,
-          params,
-          action,
-        }),
-      ),
+    ): boolean => {
+      if (debounce) {
+        debounce = false;
+        navigation.dispatch(
+          NavigationActions.navigate({
+            routeName,
+            params,
+            action,
+          }),
+        );
+        setTimeout(
+          () => {
+            debounce = true;
+          },
+          500,
+        );
+        return true;
+      }
+      return false;
+    },
+
     /**
      * For updating current route params. For example the nav bar title and
      * buttons are based on the route params.