Don’t panic! Louis C.K. isn’t slow-rolling a shutdown of his eponymous, industry-beloved marvel just yet. As he explained in a conference call with reporters this afternoon, he just wants some time off.

The plan is to delay writing the episodes until early next year, and then go into production on them in September or October. That means they will most likely air in the spring of 2014. Of course, FX president John Landgraf has signed off on the hiatus: “The goal of FX, in terms of its relationship to Louie and his creative process, has always been to say yes and to give him whatever space he needs to create, as best he can.” And letting Louie do whatever the hell he wants has worked out pretty great for everyone so far!

But let’s let Louie explain it himself? Via Arts Beat:

“The last three seasons have been this surge of fun and work and stories, and it’s been great to share all this stuff, and I want to keep going. I want the show to keep getting better. That’s my goal, and I don’t want it to be making the doughnuts. I want it to keep being something that comes from somewhere fun and important, and I want it to stay funny. It’s a luxury that I asked for, which is more time to create Season 4.”

Damn, man. Even when Louis C.K. is doing something truly awful — like withholding Louie from us for all of 2013 — it’s still a totally smart and sensible move. This guy can’t miss!