diff --git a/src/timer.rs b/src/timer.rs
index f10ac81..882c0bb 100644
--- a/src/timer.rs
+++ b/src/timer.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-use egui::{Color32, Direction, FontId, Layout, RichText, Ui};
-use egui_extras::{Size, StripBuilder};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
-use crate::{cli::Cli, util::*};
 use clap::Parser;
-
 use eframe::{App, CreationContext};
+use egui::{Color32, Direction, FontId, Layout, RichText, Ui};
+use egui_extras::{Size, StripBuilder};
+
+use crate::{cli::Cli, util::*};
+
+const MIN_REPAINT: Duration = Duration::from_millis(100);
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 pub enum CountDirection {
@@ -63,8 +65,14 @@ impl App for Timer {
 
             match self.state {
                 TimerState::Unstarted => self.unstarted(ui, vsize),
-                TimerState::Running(_) => self.running(ui, vsize),
+                TimerState::Running(cs) => {
+                    if (Instant::now() - cs.updated) > MIN_REPAINT {
+                        ctx.request_repaint();
+                    }
+                    self.running(ui, vsize);
+                }
                 TimerState::Paused(_) => self.paused(ui, vsize),
+
                 TimerState::Finished => self.finished(ui, vsize),
             }
         });
@@ -251,6 +259,11 @@ impl Timer {
                         Color32::DARK_GRAY
                     }
                 };
+                // if we're counting up, do the right thing
+                let remaining = match self.direction {
+                    CountDirection::Down => remaining,
+                    CountDirection::Up => self.duration - remaining,
+                };
                 display_digits(&mut strip, remaining, color, vsize * 0.7);
             });