diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 36a2089..375a564 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ class TypingEffectElement extends HTMLElement {
     if (this.prefersReducedMotion) {
       return 0
     }
-    return Math.max(0, Math.min(Math.floor(Number(this.getAttribute('data-character-delay'))), 2_147_483_647)) || 40
+    const delay = Number(this.getAttribute('data-character-delay')?.trim() || 40)
+    if (delay === 0) return 0
+    return Math.max(0, Math.min(Math.floor(delay), 2_147_483_647)) || 40
   }
 
   set characterDelay(value: number) {
@@ -61,7 +63,9 @@ class TypingEffectElement extends HTMLElement {
     if (this.prefersReducedMotion) {
       return 0
     }
-    return Math.max(0, Math.min(Math.floor(Number(this.getAttribute('data-line-delay'))), 2_147_483_647)) || 40
+    const delay = Number(this.getAttribute('data-line-delay')?.trim() || 40)
+    if (delay === 0) return 0
+    return Math.max(0, Math.min(Math.floor(delay), 2_147_483_647)) || 40
   }
 
   set lineDelay(value: number) {
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 33a283c..d052600 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -91,6 +91,28 @@ describe('typing-effect', function () {
       assert.equal(typingEffectElement.lineDelay, 40)
     })
 
+    it('preserves zero delay attributes and property values', function () {
+      const element = document.createElement('typing-effect')
+      element.setAttribute('data-character-delay', '0')
+      element.setAttribute('data-line-delay', '0')
+      assert.strictEqual(element.characterDelay, 0)
+      assert.strictEqual(element.lineDelay, 0)
+
+      element.characterDelay = 20
+      element.lineDelay = 20
+      element.characterDelay = 0
+      element.lineDelay = 0
+      assert.strictEqual(element.characterDelay, 0)
+      assert.strictEqual(element.lineDelay, 0)
+
+      for (const value of ['', ' ', '\n', '0.5']) {
+        element.setAttribute('data-character-delay', value)
+        element.setAttribute('data-line-delay', value)
+        assert.strictEqual(element.characterDelay, 40)
+        assert.strictEqual(element.lineDelay, 40)
+      }
+    })
+
     it('uses specified delay attributes instead of using defaults', function () {
       const characterDelay = 20
       const lineDelay = 20