diff --git a/games/lemm/TODO b/games/lemm/TODO
index d57f5bec..fd24de4b 100644
--- a/games/lemm/TODO
+++ b/games/lemm/TODO
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-+ only dig if digger selected
 + ability to walk up hills
 + ability to explode
 + particle effects
diff --git a/games/lemm/intro_level1.s b/games/lemm/intro_level1.s
index afe56301..bc079b51 100644
--- a/games/lemm/intro_level1.s
+++ b/games/lemm/intro_level1.s
@@ -70,11 +70,23 @@ outro_level1:
 
 	jsr	set_normal
 
+
+	lda	LEVEL_OVER
+	cmp	#LEVEL_WIN
+	bne	print_l1_lose_message
+
 	; print messages
 
 	lda	#<level1_win_text
 	sta	OUTL
 	lda	#>level1_win_text
+	jmp	print_l1_common
+print_l1_lose_message:
+	lda	#<level1_lose_text
+	sta	OUTL
+	lda	#>level1_lose_text
+
+print_l1_common:
 	sta	OUTH
 
 	; print the text
@@ -124,12 +136,12 @@ level1_lose_text:
 .byte  8, 7,"THAT YOU NUKED THAT LEVEL.",0
 .byte  6,20,"PRESS RETURN FOR NEXT LEVEL",0
 .byte  9,21,"PRESS ESCAPE FOR MENU",0
-
-
+.byte 10,10," ",0	; lazy hack
+.byte 10,10," ",0
 
 level5_intro_text:
 .byte  0, 8,"LEVEL 5",0
-.byte 15, 8,"YOU NEED BASHERS THIS TIME",0
+.byte 14, 8,"YOU NEED BASHERS THIS TIME",0
 .byte  9,12,"NUMBER OF LEMMINGS 50",0
 .byte 12,14,"10%  TO BE SAVED",0
 .byte 12,16,"RELEASE RATE 50",0
diff --git a/games/lemm/keyboard.s b/games/lemm/keyboard.s
index 59cfafea..362d5cb3 100644
--- a/games/lemm/keyboard.s
+++ b/games/lemm/keyboard.s
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ check_escape:
 	cmp	#27
 	bne	check_return
 escape_pressed:
-	inc	LEVEL_OVER
+	lda	#LEVEL_FAIL
+	sta	LEVEL_OVER
 
 	jmp	done_keypress
 
diff --git a/games/lemm/move_lemming.s b/games/lemm/move_lemming.s
index 1f765026..8d9a5a68 100644
--- a/games/lemm/move_lemming.s
+++ b/games/lemm/move_lemming.s
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ done_move_lemming:
 
 	jsr	remove_lemming
 
-	lda	#1
+	lda	#LEVEL_WIN
 	sta	LEVEL_OVER
 
 not_done_level:
diff --git a/games/lemm/update_time.s b/games/lemm/update_time.s
index f52c1a66..f70f6f34 100644
--- a/games/lemm/update_time.s
+++ b/games/lemm/update_time.s
@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ no_time_uflo:
 	lda	TIME_SECONDS
 	bne	not_over
 
-	inc	LEVEL_OVER
+	; out of time
+
+
+	lda	#LEVEL_FAIL
+	sta	LEVEL_OVER
 
 
 not_over:
diff --git a/games/lemm/zp.inc b/games/lemm/zp.inc
index 17825d8c..1e695398 100644
--- a/games/lemm/zp.inc
+++ b/games/lemm/zp.inc
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ CURSOR_Y		= $78
 DISP_PAGE		= $79
 DRAW_PAGE		= $7A
 LEVEL_OVER		= $7B
+	LEVEL_FAIL	= 1
+	LEVEL_WIN	= 2
 DOOR_OPEN		= $7C
 CHUNK_NEXT_LOAD		= $7D
 CHUNK_NEXT_PLAY		= $7E