diff --git a/mist/mist.s b/mist/mist.s
index b9cbb93e..976f6660 100644
--- a/mist/mist.s
+++ b/mist/mist.s
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ mist_start:
 
 	jsr	change_location
 
+	lda	#1
+	sta	CURSOR_VISIBLE		; visible at first
+
+
 
 game_loop:
 	;=================
@@ -60,7 +64,14 @@ game_loop:
 	;====================================
 	; draw pointer
 	;====================================
+
+	lda	CURSOR_VISIBLE
+	bne	draw_pointer
+	jmp	no_draw_pointer
+
 draw_pointer:
+
+
 	lda	CURSOR_X
 	sta	XPOS
         lda     CURSOR_Y
@@ -129,6 +140,8 @@ finger_draw:
 	sta	INH
 	jsr	put_sprite_crop
 
+no_draw_pointer:
+
 	;====================================
 	; page flip
 	;====================================
@@ -221,9 +234,14 @@ return_pressed:
 
 not_special_return:
 
-	jmp	done_keypress
+	; special case, don't make cursor visible
+
+	jmp	no_keypress
 
 done_keypress:
+	lda	#1			; make cursor visible
+	sta	CURSOR_VISIBLE
+
 no_keypress:
 	bit	KEYRESET
 	rts
@@ -236,6 +254,7 @@ no_keypress:
 handle_special:
 	ldy	#LOCATION_SPECIAL_FUNC+1
 	lda	(LOCATION_STRUCT_L),Y
+	pha
 	dey
 	lda	(LOCATION_STRUCT_L),Y
 	pha
@@ -282,6 +301,13 @@ change_direction:
 	;=============================
 change_location:
 
+	; reset pointer to not visible, centered
+	lda	#0
+	sta	CURSOR_VISIBLE
+	lda	#20
+	sta	CURSOR_X
+	sta	CURSOR_Y
+
 	lda	LOCATION
 	asl
 	tay
diff --git a/mist/zp.inc b/mist/zp.inc
index 754f2f01..f5d229b2 100644
--- a/mist/zp.inc
+++ b/mist/zp.inc
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ LOCATION = $67
 LOCATION_STRUCT_L = $68
 LOCATION_STRUCT_H = $69
 IN_SPECIAL	=	$6A
+CURSOR_VISIBLE	=	$6B
 
 DISP_PAGE	=	$ED	; ALL
 DRAW_PAGE	=	$EE	; ALL