diff --git a/autoload/ale/events.vim b/autoload/ale/events.vim
index 731e36f2..3568c117 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/events.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/events.vim
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ function! ale#events#Init() abort
 
         if g:ale_enabled
             if l:text_changed is? 'always' || l:text_changed is# '1'
-                autocmd TextChanged,TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)
+                autocmd TextChanged,TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand('<abuf>')), 'lint_delay'))
             elseif l:text_changed is? 'normal'
-                autocmd TextChanged * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)
+                autocmd TextChanged * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand('<abuf>')), 'lint_delay'))
             elseif l:text_changed is? 'insert'
-                autocmd TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)
+                autocmd TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand('<abuf>')), 'lint_delay'))
             endif
 
             if g:ale_lint_on_enter
diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index f2f77a83..14d2abbe 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ g:ale_list_window_size                                 *g:ale_list_window_size*
 
 
 g:ale_lint_delay                                             *g:ale_lint_delay*
-
+                                                             *b:ale_lint_delay*
   Type: |Number|
   Default: `200`
 
@@ -1180,6 +1180,9 @@ g:ale_lint_delay                                             *g:ale_lint_delay*
   be run after text is changed. This option is only meaningful with the
   |g:ale_lint_on_text_changed| variable set to `always`, `insert`, or `normal`.
 
+  A buffer-local option, `b:ale_lint_delay`, can be set to change the delay
+  for different buffers, such as in |ftplugin| files.
+
 
 g:ale_lint_on_enter                                       *g:ale_lint_on_enter*
 
diff --git a/test/test_autocmd_commands.vader b/test/test_autocmd_commands.vader
index a69333d4..2f0a893f 100644
--- a/test/test_autocmd_commands.vader
+++ b/test/test_autocmd_commands.vader
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ Execute (All events should be set up when everything is on):
   \   'FileType * call ale#events#FileTypeEvent( str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), expand(''<amatch>''))',
   \   'InsertLeave * if ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_on_insert_leave'') | call ale#Queue(0) | endif',
   \   'InsertLeave if exists(''*ale#engine#Cleanup'') | call ale#cursor#EchoCursorWarning() | endif',
-  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
-  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
+  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
+  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
   \ ],
   \ CheckAutocmd('ALEEvents')
 
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ Execute (g:ale_lint_on_text_changed = 1 bind both events):
 
   AssertEqual
   \ [
-  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
-  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
+  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
+  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
   \ ],
   \ filter(CheckAutocmd('ALEEvents'), 'v:val =~ ''^TextChanged''')
 
@@ -155,8 +155,8 @@ Execute (g:ale_lint_on_text_changed = 'always' should bind both events):
 
   AssertEqual
   \ [
-  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
-  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
+  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
+  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
   \ ],
   \ filter(CheckAutocmd('ALEEvents'), 'v:val =~ ''^TextChanged''')
 
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ Execute (g:ale_lint_on_text_changed = 'normal' should bind only TextChanged):
 
   AssertEqual
   \ [
-  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
+  \   'TextChanged * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
   \ ],
   \ filter(CheckAutocmd('ALEEvents'), 'v:val =~ ''^TextChanged''')
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ Execute (g:ale_lint_on_text_changed = 'insert' should bind only TextChangedI):
 
   AssertEqual
   \ [
-  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(g:ale_lint_delay)',
+  \   'TextChangedI * call ale#Queue(ale#Var(str2nr(expand(''<abuf>'')), ''lint_delay''))',
   \ ],
   \ filter(CheckAutocmd('ALEEvents'), 'v:val =~ ''^TextChanged''')