diff --git a/src/subcmds/arcade/conway.zig b/src/subcmds/arcade/conway.zig
index 2fae118..c2e9696 100644
--- a/src/subcmds/arcade/conway.zig
+++ b/src/subcmds/arcade/conway.zig
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ pub fn play(width: u64, height: u64, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
         try con.writer.print("\x1B[{}A", .{height + 1});
         try con.print();
 
+        // keep the timeouts reasonable
+        timeout = std.math.clamp(timeout, 1, 10000);
+
         // keep the cursor in the game window to prevent the terminal from doing
         // anything we can't/don't account for
         cursor_x = std.math.clamp(cursor_x, 1, con.width);
@@ -174,7 +177,7 @@ pub fn play(width: u64, height: u64, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
             for (buf) |c| switch (c) {
                 // we don't wanna worry about case when using +
                 '+', '=' => timeout += 50,
-                '-' => timeout = std.math.clamp(timeout - 50, 1, 1000),
+                '-' => timeout -= 50,
                 'n' => break :run, // next generation
                 'q' => {
                     running = false;