diff --git a/games/lemm/interrupt_handler.s b/games/lemm/interrupt_handler.s
index 49ab5a4c..bdf6eb00 100644
--- a/games/lemm/interrupt_handler.s
+++ b/games/lemm/interrupt_handler.s
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ interrupt_handler:
 
 ;	inc	$0404		; debug (flashes char onscreen)
 
+	inc	TIMER_COUNT
 
 pt3_irq_smc1:
         bit     MOCK_6522_T1CL  ; clear 6522 interrupt by reading T1C-L ; 4
diff --git a/games/lemm/lemm.s b/games/lemm/lemm.s
index c9124f71..7dbfe321 100644
--- a/games/lemm/lemm.s
+++ b/games/lemm/lemm.s
@@ -287,9 +287,10 @@ zurg:
 
 	lda	#$5
 	sta	TIME_MINUTES
-	lda	#$12
+	lda	#$00
 	sta	TIME_SECONDS
 
+	sta	TIMER_COUNT
 
 	;===================
 	;===================
@@ -319,8 +320,16 @@ door_is_open:
 
 	jsr	draw_flames
 
+	lda	TIMER_COUNT
+	cmp	#$50
+	bcc	timer_not_yet
+
 	jsr	update_time
 
+	lda	#$0
+	sta	TIMER_COUNT
+timer_not_yet:
+
 	jsr	draw_pointer
 
 
diff --git a/games/lemm/zp.inc b/games/lemm/zp.inc
index dd562811..33e7feca 100644
--- a/games/lemm/zp.inc
+++ b/games/lemm/zp.inc
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ CHUNK_NEXT_LOAD		= $7D
 CHUNK_NEXT_PLAY		= $7E
 LOAD_NEXT_CHUNK		= $7F
 OVER_LEMMING		= $80
+TIMER_COUNT		= $81
 
 APPLEII_MODEL		= $8B