diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 73f3fea6d..1d74045d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -121,9 +121,17 @@ require('lualine').setup {
     theme = 'auto',
     component_separators = { left = '', right = ''},
     section_separators = { left = '', right = ''},
-    disabled_filetypes = {},
+    disabled_filetypes = {
+      statusline = {},
+      winbar = {},
+    },
     always_divide_middle = true,
     globalstatus = false,
+    refresh = {
+      statusline = 1000,
+      tabline = 1000,
+      winbar = 1000,
+    }
   },
   sections = {
     lualine_a = {'mode'},
@@ -142,6 +150,8 @@ require('lualine').setup {
     lualine_z = {}
   },
   tabline = {},
+  winbar = {},
+  inactive_winbar = {},
   extensions = {}
 }
 ```
@@ -336,13 +346,28 @@ options = {
   theme = 'auto', -- lualine theme
   component_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
   section_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
-  disabled_filetypes = {},     -- Filetypes to disable lualine for.
+  disabled_filetypes = {     -- Filetypes to disable lualine for.
+      statusline = {},       -- only ignores the ft for statusline.
+      winbar = {},           -- only ignores the ft for winbar.
+  },
+
   always_divide_middle = true, -- When set to true, left sections i.e. 'a','b' and 'c'
                                -- can't take over the entire statusline even
                                -- if neither of 'x', 'y' or 'z' are present.
+
   globalstatus = false,        -- enable global statusline (have a single statusline
                                -- at bottom of neovim instead of one for  every window).
                                -- This feature is only available in neovim 0.7 and higher.
+
+  refresh = {                  -- sets how often lualine should refreash it's contents (in ms)
+    statusline = 1000,         -- The refresh option sets minimum time that lualine tries
+    tabline = 1000,            -- to maintain between refresh. It's not guarantied if situation
+    winbar = 1000              -- arises that lualine needs to refresh itself before this time
+                               -- it'll do it.
+
+                               -- Also you can force lualine's refresh by calling refresh function
+                               -- like require('lualine').refresh()
+  }
 }
 ```
 
@@ -689,6 +714,34 @@ tabline = {
 }
 ```
 
+### Winbar
+From neovim-0.8 you can customize your winbar with lualine.
+Winbar configuration is similar to statusline.
+```lua
+winbar = {
+  lualine_a = {},
+  lualine_b = {},
+  lualine_c = {'filename'},
+  lualine_x = {},
+  lualine_y = {},
+  lualine_z = {}
+}
+
+inactive_winbar = {
+  lualine_a = {},
+  lualine_b = {},
+  lualine_c = {'filename'},
+  lualine_x = {},
+  lualine_y = {},
+  lualine_z = {}
+}
+```
+Just like statusline you can separately specify winbar for active and inactive
+windows. Any lualine component can be placed in winbar. All kinds of custom
+components supported in statusline are also suported for winbar too. In general
+You can treat winbar as another lualine statusline that just appears on top
+of windows instead of at bottom.
+
 #### Buffers
 
 Shows currently open buffers. Like bufferline . See
diff --git a/lua/lualine.lua b/lua/lualine.lua
index c2356bdb8..4b3fed63d 100644
--- a/lua/lualine.lua
+++ b/lua/lualine.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 -- Copyright (c) 2020-2021 hoob3rt
 -- MIT license, see LICENSE for more details.
+local M = {}
+
 local lualine_require = require('lualine_require')
 local modules = lualine_require.lazy_require {
   highlight = 'lualine.highlight',
@@ -8,9 +10,20 @@ local modules = lualine_require.lazy_require {
   utils = 'lualine.utils.utils',
   utils_notices = 'lualine.utils.notices',
   config_module = 'lualine.config',
+  nvim_opts = 'lualine.utils.nvim_opts'
 }
 local config -- Stores currently applied config
+local timers = {
+  stl_timer = vim.loop.new_timer(),
+  tal_timer = vim.loop.new_timer(),
+  wb_timer = vim.loop.new_timer(),
+}
 
+-- The events on which lualine redraws itself
+local default_refresh_events = 'WinEnter,BufEnter,SessionLoadPost,FileChangedShellPost,VimResized'
+if vim.fn.has('nvim-0.7') == 1 then -- utilize ModeChanged event introduced in 0.7
+  default_refresh_events = default_refresh_events..',ModeChanged'
+end
 -- Helper for apply_transitional_separators()
 --- finds first applied highlight group after str_checked in status
 ---@param status string : unprocessed statusline string
@@ -140,7 +153,7 @@ end
 ---      component objects
 ---@param is_focused boolean : whether being evaluated for focused window or not
 ---@return string statusline string
-local statusline = modules.utils.retry_call_wrap(function(sections, is_focused)
+local statusline = modules.utils.retry_call_wrap(function(sections, is_focused, is_winbar)
   -- The sequence sections should maintain [SECTION_SEQUENCE]
   local section_sequence = { 'a', 'b', 'c', 'x', 'y', 'z' }
   local status = {}
@@ -167,7 +180,7 @@ local statusline = modules.utils.retry_call_wrap(function(sections, is_focused)
       end
     end
   end
-  if applied_midsection_divider == false and config.options.always_divide_middle ~= false then
+  if applied_midsection_divider == false and config.options.always_divide_middle ~= false and not is_winbar then
     -- When non of section x,y,z is present
     table.insert(status, modules.highlight.format_highlight('c', is_focused) .. '%=')
   end
@@ -182,15 +195,10 @@ end)
 -- TODO: change this so it uses a hash table instead of iteration over list
 --       to improve redraws. Add buftype / bufname for extensions
 --       or some kind of cond ?
-local function get_extension_sections(current_ft, is_focused)
+local function get_extension_sections(current_ft, is_focused, sec_name)
   for _, extension in ipairs(config.extensions) do
-    for _, filetype in ipairs(extension.filetypes) do
-      if current_ft == filetype then
-        if is_focused == false and extension.inactive_sections then
-          return extension.inactive_sections
-        end
-        return extension.sections
-      end
+    if vim.tbl_contains(extension.filetypes, current_ft) then
+      return extension[(is_focused and '' or 'inactive_') .. sec_name]
     end
   end
   return nil
@@ -252,63 +260,192 @@ local function setup_theme()
     autocmd lualine OptionSet background lua require'lualine'.setup()]])
 end
 
+---@alias StatusDispatchSecs
+---| 'sections'
+---| 'winbar'
+--- generates lualine.statusline & lualine.winbar function
+--- creates a closer that can draw sections of sec_name.
+---@param sec_name StatusDispatchSecs
+---@return function(focused:bool):string
+local function status_dispatch(sec_name)
+  return function(focused)
+    local retval
+    local current_ft = vim.bo.filetype
+    local is_focused = focused ~= nil and focused or modules.utils.is_focused()
+    if vim.tbl_contains(config.options.disabled_filetypes[(sec_name == 'sections' and 'statusline' or sec_name)],
+                        current_ft) then
+      -- disable on specific filetypes
+      return ''
+    end
+    local extension_sections = get_extension_sections(current_ft, is_focused, sec_name)
+    if extension_sections ~= nil then
+      retval = statusline(extension_sections, is_focused, sec_name == 'winbar')
+    else
+      retval = statusline(config[(is_focused and '' or 'inactive_')..sec_name], is_focused, sec_name == 'winbar')
+    end
+    return retval
+  end
+end
+
+---@alias LualineRefreshOptsKind
+---| 'all'
+---| 'tabpage'
+---| 'window'
+---@alias LualineRefreshOptsPlace
+---| 'statusline'
+---| 'tabline'
+---| 'winbar'
+---@class LualineRefreshOpts
+---@field kind LualineRefreshOptsKind
+---@field place LualineRefreshOptsPlace[]
+---@field trigger 'autocmd'|'timer'|'unknown'
+--- Refresh contents of lualine
+---@param opts LualineRefreshOpts
+local function refresh(opts)
+  if opts == nil then
+    opts = {kind = 'tabpage', place = {'statusline', 'winbar', 'tabline'}, trigger='unknown'}
+  end
+
+  -- workaround for https://github.com/neovim/neovim/issues/19464
+  if (opts.trigger == 'autocmd'
+      and vim.api.nvim_win_get_height(vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()) <= 1
+      and vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'winbar')
+     ) then
+     local id
+     for index, value in ipairs(opts.place) do
+       if value == 'winbar' then
+         id = index
+         break
+       end
+     end
+     table.remove(opts.place, id)
+  end
+
+  local wins = {}
+  local old_actual_curwin = vim.g.actual_curwin
+  vim.g.actual_curwin = vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()
+  -- gather which windows needs update
+  if opts.kind == 'all' then
+    if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'statusline')
+      or vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'winbar') then
+      wins = vim.tbl_filter(function (win)
+        return vim.fn.win_gettype(win) ~= 'popup'
+      end, vim.api.nvim_list_wins())
+    end
+  elseif opts.kind == 'tabpage' then
+    if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'statusline')
+      or vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'winbar') then
+      wins = vim.tbl_filter(function (win)
+        return vim.fn.win_gettype(win) ~= 'popup'
+      end, vim.api.nvim_tabpage_list_wins(0))
+    end
+  elseif opts.kind == 'window' then
+    wins = {vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()}
+  end
+
+  -- update them
+  if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'statusline') then
+    for _, win in ipairs(wins) do
+      modules.nvim_opts.set('statusline',
+                    vim.api.nvim_win_call(win, M.statusline), {window=win})
+    end
+  end
+  if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'winbar') then
+    for _, win in ipairs(wins) do
+      if vim.api.nvim_win_get_height(win) > 1 then
+      modules.nvim_opts.set('winbar',
+                    vim.api.nvim_win_call(win, M.winbar), {window=win})
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'tabline') then
+    modules.nvim_opts.set('tabline',
+                    vim.api.nvim_win_call(vim.api.nvim_get_current_win(), tabline),
+                    {global=true})
+  end
+
+  -- call redraw
+  if vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'statusline')
+    or vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'winbar') then
+    vim.cmd('redrawstatus')
+  elseif vim.tbl_contains(opts.place, 'tabline') then
+    vim.cmd('redrawtabline')
+  end
+
+  vim.g.actual_curwin = old_actual_curwin
+end
+
 --- Sets &tabline option to lualine
 local function set_tabline()
+  vim.loop.timer_stop(timers.tal_timer)
+  vim.cmd([[augroup lualine_tal_refresh | exe "autocmd!" | augroup END]])
   if next(config.tabline) ~= nil then
-    vim.go.tabline = "%{%v:lua.require'lualine'.tabline()%}"
-    vim.go.showtabline = 2
-  elseif vim.go.tabline == "%{%v:lua.require'lualine'.tabline()%}" then
-    vim.go.tabline = ''
-    vim.go.showtabline = 1
+    vim.loop.timer_start(timers.tal_timer, 0, config.options.refresh.tabline,
+                         modules.utils.timer_call(timers.stl_timer, 'lualine_tal_refresh', function ()
+                          refresh({kind='tabpage', place={'tabline'}, trigger='timer'})
+                         end, 3, "lualine: Failed to refresh tabline"))
+    modules.utils.define_autocmd(default_refresh_events,
+                                 '*', "call v:lua.require'lualine'.refresh({'kind': 'tabpage', 'place': ['tabline'], 'trigger': 'autocmd'})",
+                                 'lualine_tal_refresh')
+    modules.nvim_opts.set('showtabline', 2, {global=true})
+  else
+    modules.nvim_opts.restore('tabline', {global=true})
+    modules.nvim_opts.restore('showtabline', {global=true})
   end
 end
 
 --- Sets &statusline option to lualine
 --- adds auto command to redraw lualine on VimResized event
 local function set_statusline()
+  vim.loop.timer_stop(timers.stl_timer)
+  vim.cmd([[augroup lualine_stl_refresh | exe "autocmd!" | augroup END]])
   if next(config.sections) ~= nil or next(config.inactive_sections) ~= nil then
-    vim.cmd('autocmd lualine VimResized * redrawstatus')
-    vim.go.statusline = "%{%v:lua.require'lualine'.statusline()%}"
     if config.options.globalstatus then
-      vim.go.laststatus = 3
+      modules.nvim_opts.set('laststatus', 3, {global=true})
+      vim.loop.timer_start(timers.stl_timer, 0, config.options.refresh.statusline,
+                           modules.utils.timer_call(timers.stl_timer, 'lualine_stl_refresh', function ()
+                            refresh({kind='window', place={'statusline'}, trigger='timer'})
+                           end, 3, "lualine: Failed to refresh statusline"))
+      modules.utils.define_autocmd(default_refresh_events,
+                                 '*', "call v:lua.require'lualine'.refresh({'kind': 'window', 'place': ['statusline'], 'trigger': 'autocmd'})",
+                                 'lualine_stl_refresh')
+    else
+      modules.nvim_opts.set('laststatus', 2, {global=true})
+      vim.loop.timer_start(timers.stl_timer, 0, config.options.refresh.statusline,
+                           modules.utils.timer_call(timers.stl_timer, 'lualine_stl_refresh', function ()
+                            refresh({kind='tabpage', place={'statusline'}, trigger='timer'})
+                           end, 3, "lualine: Failed to refresh statusline"))
+      modules.utils.define_autocmd(default_refresh_events,
+                                 '*', "call v:lua.require'lualine'.refresh({'kind': 'tabpage', 'place': ['statusline'], 'trigger': 'autocmd'})",
+                                 'lualine_stl_refresh')
     end
-  elseif vim.go.statusline == "%{%v:lua.require'lualine'.statusline()%}" then
-    vim.go.statusline = ''
-    if config.options.globalstatus then
-      vim.go.laststatus = 2
+  else
+    modules.nvim_opts.restore('statusline', {global=true})
+    for _, win in ipairs(vim.api.nvim_list_wins()) do
+      modules.nvim_opts.restore('statusline', {window=win})
     end
+    modules.nvim_opts.restore('laststatus', {global=true})
   end
 end
 
--- lualine.statusline function
---- Draw correct statusline for current window
----@param focused boolean : force the value of is_focused . Useful for debugging
----@return string statusline string
-local function status_dispatch(focused)
-  local retval
-  local current_ft = vim.bo.filetype
-  local is_focused = focused ~= nil and focused or modules.utils.is_focused()
-  for _, ft in pairs(config.options.disabled_filetypes) do
-    -- disable on specific filetypes
-    if ft == current_ft then
-      return ''
+--- Sets &winbar option to lualine
+local function set_winbar()
+  vim.loop.timer_stop(timers.wb_timer)
+  vim.cmd([[augroup lualine_wb_refresh | exe "autocmd!" | augroup END]])
+  if next(config.winbar) ~= nil or next(config.inactive_winbar) ~= nil then
+    vim.loop.timer_start(timers.stl_timer, 0, config.options.refresh.winbar,
+                         modules.utils.timer_call(timers.stl_timer, 'lualine_wb_refresh', function ()
+                          refresh({kind='tabpage', place={'winbar'}, trigger='timer'})
+                         end, 3, "lualine: Failed to refresh winbar"))
+    modules.utils.define_autocmd(default_refresh_events,
+                               '*', "call v:lua.require'lualine'.refresh({'kind': 'tabpage', 'place': ['winbar'], 'trigger': 'autocmd'})",
+                               'lualine_wb_refresh')
+  elseif vim.fn.has('nvim-0.8') == 1 then
+    modules.nvim_opts.restore('winbar', {global=true})
+    for _, win in ipairs(vim.api.nvim_list_wins()) do
+      modules.nvim_opts.restore('winbar', {window=win})
     end
   end
-  local extension_sections = get_extension_sections(current_ft, is_focused)
-  if is_focused then
-    if extension_sections ~= nil then
-      retval = statusline(extension_sections, is_focused)
-    else
-      retval = statusline(config.sections, is_focused)
-    end
-  else
-    if extension_sections ~= nil then
-      retval = statusline(extension_sections, is_focused)
-    else
-      retval = statusline(config.inactive_sections, is_focused)
-    end
-  end
-  return retval
 end
 
 -- lualine.setup function
@@ -332,14 +469,19 @@ local function setup(user_config)
   modules.loader.load_all(config)
   set_statusline()
   set_tabline()
+  set_winbar()
   if package.loaded['lualine.utils.notices'] then
     modules.utils_notices.notice_message_startup()
   end
 end
 
-return {
+M = {
   setup = setup,
-  statusline = status_dispatch,
+  statusline = status_dispatch('sections'),
   tabline = tabline,
   get_config = modules.config_module.get_config,
+  refresh = refresh,
+  winbar = status_dispatch('winbar'),
 }
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/lualine/config.lua b/lua/lualine/config.lua
index dc4a47663..f750353c0 100644
--- a/lua/lualine/config.lua
+++ b/lua/lualine/config.lua
@@ -12,9 +12,17 @@ local config = {
     theme = 'auto',
     component_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
     section_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
-    disabled_filetypes = {},
+    disabled_filetypes = {
+      statusline = {},
+      winbar = {}
+    },
     always_divide_middle = true,
-    globalstatus = false,
+    globalstatus = vim.go.laststatus == 3,
+    refresh = {
+      statusline = 1000,
+      tabline = 1000,
+      winbar = 1000,
+    }
   },
   sections = {
     lualine_a = { 'mode' },
@@ -33,6 +41,8 @@ local config = {
     lualine_z = {},
   },
   tabline = {},
+  winbar = {},
+  inactive_winbar = {},
   extensions = {},
 }
 
@@ -48,6 +58,24 @@ local function fix_separators(separators)
   return separators
 end
 
+---copy raw disabled_filetypes to inner statusline & winbar tables.
+---@param disabled_filetypes table
+---@return table
+local function fix_disabled_filetypes(disabled_filetypes)
+  if disabled_filetypes == nil then return end
+  if disabled_filetypes.statusline == nil then
+    disabled_filetypes.statusline = {}
+  end
+  if disabled_filetypes.winbar == nil then
+    disabled_filetypes.winbar = {}
+  end
+  for k, disabled_ft in ipairs(disabled_filetypes) do
+    table.insert(disabled_filetypes.statusline, disabled_ft)
+    table.insert(disabled_filetypes.winbar, disabled_ft)
+    disabled_filetypes[k] = nil
+  end
+  return disabled_filetypes
+end
 ---extends config based on config_table
 ---@param config_table table
 ---@return table copy of config
@@ -73,15 +101,25 @@ local function apply_configuration(config_table)
     )
     config_table.options.globalstatus = false
   end
+  if vim.fn.has('nvim-0.8') == 0 and (next(config_table.winbar or {}) or next(config_table.inactive_winbar or {})) then
+    modules.utils_notices.add_notice(
+      '### winbar\nSorry `winbar can only be used in neovim 0.8 or higher.\n'
+    )
+    config_table.winbar = {}
+    config_table.inactive_winbar = {}
+  end
   parse_sections('options')
   parse_sections('sections')
   parse_sections('inactive_sections')
   parse_sections('tabline')
+  parse_sections('winbar')
+  parse_sections('inactive_winbar')
   if config_table.extensions then
     config.extensions = utils.deepcopy(config_table.extensions)
   end
   config.options.section_separators = fix_separators(config.options.section_separators)
   config.options.component_separators = fix_separators(config.options.component_separators)
+  config.options.disabled_filetypes = fix_disabled_filetypes(config.options.disabled_filetypes)
   return utils.deepcopy(config)
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/lualine/utils/loader.lua b/lua/lualine/utils/loader.lua
index 74f58bc52..f5f5afd39 100644
--- a/lua/lualine/utils/loader.lua
+++ b/lua/lualine/utils/loader.lua
@@ -154,29 +154,22 @@ end
 ---loads all the configs (active, inactive, tabline)
 ---@param config table user config
 local function load_components(config)
-  load_sections(config.sections, config.options)
-  load_sections(config.inactive_sections, config.options)
-  load_sections(config.tabline, config.options)
+  local sec_names = {'sections', 'inactive_sections', 'tabline', 'winbar', 'inactive_winbar'}
+  for _, section in ipairs(sec_names) do
+    load_sections(config[section], config.options)
+  end
 end
 
 ---loads all the extensions
 ---@param config table user config
 local function load_extensions(config)
   local loaded_extensions = {}
+  local sec_names = {'sections', 'inactive_sections', 'winbar', 'inactive_winbar'}
   for _, extension in pairs(config.extensions) do
     if type(extension) == 'string' then
-      local ok, local_extension = pcall(require, 'lualine.extensions.' .. extension)
-      if ok then
-        local_extension = modules.utils.deepcopy(local_extension)
-        load_sections(local_extension.sections, config.options)
-        if local_extension.inactive_sections then
-          load_sections(local_extension.inactive_sections, config.options)
-        end
-        if type(local_extension.init) == 'function' then
-          local_extension.init()
-        end
-        table.insert(loaded_extensions, local_extension)
-      else
+      local ok
+      ok, extension = pcall(require, 'lualine.extensions.' .. extension)
+      if not ok then
         modules.notice.add_notice(string.format(
           [[
 ### Extensions
@@ -185,11 +178,13 @@ Extension named `%s` was not found . Check if spelling is correct.
           extension
         ))
       end
-    elseif type(extension) == 'table' then
+    end
+    if type(extension) == 'table' then
       local local_extension = modules.utils.deepcopy(extension)
-      load_sections(local_extension.sections, config.options)
-      if local_extension.inactive_sections then
-        load_sections(local_extension.inactive_sections, config.options)
+      for _, section in ipairs(sec_names) do
+        if local_extension[section] then
+          load_sections(local_extension[section], config.options)
+        end
       end
       if type(local_extension.init) == 'function' then
         local_extension.init()
@@ -205,6 +200,7 @@ end
 local function load_all(config)
   require('lualine.component')._reset_components()
   modules.fn_store.clear_fns()
+  require('lualine.utils.nvim_opts').reset_cache()
   load_components(config)
   load_extensions(config)
 end
diff --git a/lua/lualine/utils/nvim_opts.lua b/lua/lualine/utils/nvim_opts.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e20420c63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/lualine/utils/nvim_opts.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+local M = {}
+
+-- keeps backup of options that we cahge so we can restore it.
+-- format:
+-- options {
+--   global = <1> {
+--     name = {prev, set}
+--   },
+--   buffer = {
+--     buf1 = <1>,
+--     buf2 = <1>
+--   },
+--   window = {
+--     win1 = <1>,
+--     win2 = <1>
+--   }
+-- }
+---@class LualineNvimOptCacheOptStore
+---@field prev any
+---@field set any
+---@alias LualineNvimOptCacheOpt table<string, LualineNvimOptCacheOptStore>
+---@class LualineNvimOptCache
+---@field global LualineNvimOptCacheOpt[]
+---@field buffer table<number, LualineNvimOptCacheOpt[]>
+---@field window table<number, LualineNvimOptCacheOpt[]>
+---@type LualineNvimOptCache
+local options = {global={}, buffer={}, window={}}
+
+-- helper function for M.set
+local function set_opt(name, val, getter_fn, setter_fn, cache_tbl)
+  -- before nvim 0.7 nvim_win_get_option... didn't return default value when
+  -- the option wasn't set instead threw error.
+  -- So we need pcall (probably just for test)
+  local ok, cur = pcall(getter_fn, name)
+  if not ok then cur = nil end
+  if cur == val then return end
+  if cache_tbl[name] == nil then cache_tbl[name] = {} end
+  if cache_tbl[name].set ~= cur then
+    cache_tbl[name].prev = cur
+  end
+  cache_tbl[name].set = val
+  setter_fn(name, val)
+end
+
+-- set a option value
+---@param name string
+---@param val any
+---@param opts table|nil when table can be {global=true | buffer = bufnr | window = winnr}
+---                      when nil it's treated as {global = true}
+function M.set(name, val, opts)
+  if opts == nil or opts.global then
+    set_opt(name, val, vim.api.nvim_get_option, vim.api.nvim_set_option, options.global)
+  elseif opts.buffer then
+    if options.buffer[opts.buffer] == nil then
+      options.buffer[opts.buffer] = {}
+    end
+    set_opt(name, val, function (nm)
+      return vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(opts.buffer, nm)
+    end, function (nm, vl)
+      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(opts.buffer, nm, vl)
+    end, options.buffer[opts.buffer])
+  elseif opts.window then
+    if options.window[opts.window] == nil then
+      options.window[opts.window] = {}
+    end
+    set_opt(name, val, function (nm)
+      return vim.api.nvim_win_get_option(opts.window, nm)
+    end, function (nm, vl)
+      vim.api.nvim_win_set_option(opts.window, nm, vl)
+    end, options.window[opts.window])
+  end
+end
+
+-- resoters old value of option name
+---@param name string
+---@param opts table|nil same as M.set
+function M.restore(name, opts)
+  if opts == nil or opts.global then
+    if options.global[name] ~= nil and options.global[name].prev ~= nil then
+      vim.api.nvim_set_option(name, options.global[name].prev)
+    end
+  elseif opts.buffer then
+    if options.buffer[opts.buffer] ~= nil
+      and options.buffer[opts.buffer][name] ~= nil
+      and options.buffer[opts.buffer][name].prev ~= nil then
+      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_option(opts.buffer, name, options.buffer[opts.buffer][name].prev)
+    end
+  elseif opts.window then
+    if options.window[opts.window] ~= nil
+      and options.window[opts.window][name] ~= nil
+      and options.window[opts.window][name].prev ~= nil then
+      vim.api.nvim_win_set_option(opts.window, name, options.window[opts.window][name].prev)
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+-- returns cache for the option name
+---@param name string
+---@param opts table|nil same as M.set
+function M.get_cache(name, opts)
+  if opts == nil or opts.global then
+    if options.global[name] ~= nil and options.global[name].prev ~= nil then
+      return options.global[name].prev
+    end
+  elseif opts.buffer then
+    if options.buffer[opts.buffer] ~= nil
+      and options.buffer[opts.buffer][name] ~= nil
+      and options.buffer[opts.buffer][name].prev ~= nil then
+      return options.buffer[opts.buffer][name].prev
+    end
+  elseif opts.window then
+    if options.window[opts.window] ~= nil
+      and options.window[opts.window][name] ~= nil
+      and options.window[opts.window][name].prev ~= nil then
+      return options.window[opts.window][name].prev
+    end
+  end
+
+end
+
+-- resets cache for options
+function M.reset_cache()
+  options = {global={}, buffer={}, window={}}
+end
+
+return M
diff --git a/lua/lualine/utils/utils.lua b/lua/lualine/utils/utils.lua
index ed768d6a5..794ddaac6 100644
--- a/lua/lualine/utils/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/lualine/utils/utils.lua
@@ -81,13 +81,14 @@ end
 ---@param event  string event name
 ---@param pattern string event pattern
 ---@param cmd    string command to run on event
-function M.define_autocmd(event, pattern, cmd)
+---@param group   string group name defaults to lualine
+function M.define_autocmd(event, pattern, cmd, group)
   if not cmd then
     cmd = pattern
     pattern = '*'
   end
   if not autocmd_is_defined(event, pattern, cmd) then
-    vim.cmd(string.format('autocmd lualine %s %s %s', event, pattern, cmd))
+    vim.cmd(string.format('autocmd %s %s %s %s', group or 'lualine', event, pattern, cmd))
   end
 end
 
@@ -183,4 +184,34 @@ function M.stl_escape(str)
   return str:gsub('%%', '%%%%')
 end
 
+---A safe call inside a timmer
+---@param timer userdata
+---@param augroup string|nil autocmd group to reset too on error.
+---@param fn function
+---@param max_err integer
+---@param err_msg string
+---@return function a wraped fn that can be called inside a timer and that
+---stops the timer after max_err errors in calling fn
+function M.timer_call(timer, augroup, fn, max_err, err_msg)
+  local err_cnt, ret = 0, nil
+  max_err = max_err or 3
+  return vim.schedule_wrap(function(...)
+    if err_cnt > max_err then
+      vim.loop.timer_stop(timer)
+      if augroup then
+        vim.cmd(string.format([[augroup %s | exe "autocmd!" | augroup END]], augroup))
+      end
+      error(err_msg..':\n'..tostring(ret))
+    end
+    local ok
+    ok, ret = pcall(fn, ...)
+    if ok then
+      err_cnt = 0
+    else
+      err_cnt = err_cnt + 1
+    end
+    return ret
+  end)
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/tests/spec/config_spec.lua b/tests/spec/config_spec.lua
index a66e596ab..71d29a019 100644
--- a/tests/spec/config_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/spec/config_spec.lua
@@ -86,12 +86,12 @@ describe('config parsing', function()
     describe('disabled filetypes', function()
       it('default', function()
         local config = config_module.apply_configuration {}
-        eq(config.options.disabled_filetypes, {})
+        eq(config.options.disabled_filetypes, {statusline={}, winbar={}})
       end)
       it('custom', function()
         local config = { options = { disabled_filetypes = { 'lua' } } }
         config = config_module.apply_configuration(config)
-        eq(config.options.disabled_filetypes, { 'lua' })
+        eq(config.options.disabled_filetypes, {statusline={'lua'}, winbar={'lua'}})
       end)
     end)
 
diff --git a/tests/spec/lualine_spec.lua b/tests/spec/lualine_spec.lua
index 430fb8869..274b0da2f 100644
--- a/tests/spec/lualine_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/spec/lualine_spec.lua
@@ -15,9 +15,17 @@ describe('Lualine', function()
         theme = 'gruvbox',
         component_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
         section_separators = { left = '', right = '' },
-        disabled_filetypes = {},
+        disabled_filetypes = {
+          statusline = {},
+          winbar = {},
+        },
         always_divide_middle = true,
         globalstatus = false,
+        refresh = {
+          statusline = 1000,
+          tabline = 1000,
+          winbar = 1000,
+        }
       },
       sections = {
         lualine_a = { 'mode' },
@@ -48,6 +56,8 @@ describe('Lualine', function()
         lualine_z = {},
       },
       tabline = {},
+      winbar = {},
+      inactive_winbar = {},
       extensions = {},
     }