diff --git a/interpreter.ts b/interpreter.ts
index 2e7a6931..3d023cb8 100644
--- a/interpreter.ts
+++ b/interpreter.ts
@@ -288,11 +288,12 @@ namespace microcode {
             return undefined
         }
 
-        public runInstant() {
+        public runInstant(): boolean {
             const actuator = this.rule.actuators[0]
             const param = this.getParamInstant()
-            this.interp.runAction(this.index, actuator, param)
+            const ok = this.interp.runAction(this.index, actuator, param)
             this.kill()
+            return ok
         }
 
         private runAction() {
@@ -493,12 +494,20 @@ namespace microcode {
         }
 
         private switchPage(page: number) {
+            // need to make sure outstanding events are dropped and no new events
+            this.eventQueue = []
+            this.allowEvents = false
+            // now stop existing rules
             this.stopAllRules()
             // set up new rule closures
             this.currentPage = page
             this.program.pages[this.currentPage].rules.forEach((r, index) => {
                 this.ruleClosures.push(new RuleClosure(index, r, this))
             })
+            // start up timer-based rules (should these be events as well?)
+            this.ruleClosures.forEach(rc => rc.start(true))
+            // restart events
+            this.allowEvents = true
             this.addEvent({
                 kind: MicroCodeEventKind.StartPage,
             } as StartPageEvent)
@@ -507,30 +516,34 @@ namespace microcode {
                 kind: MicroCodeEventKind.StateUpdate,
                 updatedVars: Object.keys(vars2tids),
             } as StateUpdateEvent)
-            // start up timer-based rules
-            this.ruleClosures.forEach(rc => rc.start(true))
         }
 
-        public runAction(ruleIndex: number, action: Tile, param: any) {
+        public runAction(ruleIndex: number, action: Tile, param: any): boolean {
             switch (action) {
-                case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_SWITCH_PAGE:
+                case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_SWITCH_PAGE: {
+                    // no switch if no param
                     if (param) {
-                        // no switch if no param
+                        // when switching, drop any outstanding events
+                        this.eventQueue = []
                         this.addEvent({
                             kind: MicroCodeEventKind.SwitchPage,
                             index: param,
                         } as SwitchPageEvent)
+                        return true
                     }
-                    return
+                    return false
+                }
                 case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_CUP_X_ASSIGN:
                 case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_CUP_Y_ASSIGN:
-                case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_CUP_Z_ASSIGN:
+                case Tid.TID_ACTUATOR_CUP_Z_ASSIGN: {
                     const varName = getParam(action)
                     this.updateState(ruleIndex, varName, param)
-                    return
+                    return true
+                }
                 default:
                     this.host.execute(action as ActionTid, param)
             }
+            return true
         }
 
         private updateState(ruleIndex: number, varName: string, v: number) {
@@ -599,8 +612,7 @@ namespace microcode {
                 rc => rc.getOutputResource() == OutputResource.PageCounter
             )
             if (switchPage) {
-                switchPage.runInstant()
-                return // others don't get chance to run
+                if (switchPage.runInstant()) return // others don't get chance to run
             }
 
             const takesTime = live.filter(
@@ -616,10 +628,11 @@ namespace microcode {
             })
         }
 
+        private allowEvents = false
         private eventQueueActive = false
         private eventQueue: MicroCodeEvent[] = []
         public addEvent(event: MicroCodeEvent) {
-            if (!this.running) return
+            if (!this.running || !this.allowEvents) return
             this.eventQueue.push(event)
         }