diff --git a/mandel.s b/mandel.s
index 73a8ebb..6837e00 100644
--- a/mandel.s
+++ b/mandel.s
@@ -398,6 +398,11 @@ viewport_oy:
     .dword ($fffe0000 & $3fffffff) << 2
     .dword $ff000000
 
+elapsed_work:
+    .dword 0
+elapsed_digit:
+    .byte 0
+
 ; 2 + 9 * byte cycles
 .macro add bytes, dest, arg1, arg2
     clc ; 2 cyc
@@ -1979,12 +1984,12 @@ update_status:
     ldx #.lobyte(total_sec)
     ldy #.hibyte(total_sec)
     jsr FLD0R
-    ; FR0 -> integer -> temp
+    ; FR0 -> integer -> elapsed_work
     jsr FPI
     lda FR0
-    sta temp
+    sta elapsed_work
     lda FR0 + 1
-    sta temp + 1
+    sta elapsed_work + 1
 
     ;jsr IFP
     ;jsr FASC
@@ -1995,28 +2000,28 @@ update_status:
             ; count the hours
             ldx #0
         countdown_loop:
-            lda temp + 1
+            lda elapsed_work + 1
             cmp #.hibyte(divisor)
-            bmi countdown_done
-            lda temp
+            bcc countdown_done
+            lda elapsed_work
             cmp #.lobyte(divisor)
-            bmi countdown_done
+            bcc countdown_done
             sec
-            lda temp
+            lda elapsed_work
             sbc #.lobyte(divisor)
-            sta temp
-            lda temp + 1
+            sta elapsed_work
+            lda elapsed_work + 1
             sbc #.hibyte(divisor)
-            sta temp + 1
+            sta elapsed_work + 1
             inx
             jmp countdown_loop
         countdown_done:
             lda digits,x
             eor #$80
-            sta temp2
-            lda #.lobyte(temp2)
+            sta elapsed_digit
+            lda #.lobyte(elapsed_digit)
             sta INBUFF
-            lda #.hibyte(temp2)
+            lda #.hibyte(elapsed_digit)
             sta INBUFF + 1
             jsr draw_string
         .endscope