diff --git a/mandel.s b/mandel.s
index 6837e00..714f6b6 100644
--- a/mandel.s
+++ b/mandel.s
@@ -2002,10 +2002,14 @@ update_status:
         countdown_loop:
             lda elapsed_work + 1
             cmp #.hibyte(divisor)
+            beq countdown_lobyte
             bcc countdown_done
+            bcs countdown_inc
+        countdown_lobyte:
             lda elapsed_work
             cmp #.lobyte(divisor)
             bcc countdown_done
+        countdown_inc:
             sec
             lda elapsed_work
             sbc #.lobyte(divisor)