diff --git a/packages/codemirror/codemirror.mjs b/packages/codemirror/codemirror.mjs
index 29dca867..91f9fd8f 100644
--- a/packages/codemirror/codemirror.mjs
+++ b/packages/codemirror/codemirror.mjs
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ export class StrudelMirror {
     this.miniLocations = [];
     this.widgets = [];
     this.painters = [];
+    this.drawTime = drawTime;
     this.onDraw = onDraw;
     const self = this;
     this.id = id || s4();
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ export class StrudelMirror {
       onToggle: (started) => {
         replOptions?.onToggle?.(started);
         if (started) {
+          this.adjustDrawTime();
           this.drawer.start(this.repl.scheduler);
           // stop other repls when this one is started
           document.dispatchEvent(
@@ -177,6 +179,7 @@ export class StrudelMirror {
         updateWidgets(this.editor, this.widgets);
         updateMiniLocations(this.editor, this.miniLocations);
         replOptions?.afterEval?.(options);
+        this.adjustDrawTime();
         this.drawer.invalidate();
       },
     });
@@ -212,6 +215,11 @@ export class StrudelMirror {
     };
     document.addEventListener('start-repl', this.onStartRepl);
   }
+  // adjusts draw time depending on if there are painters
+  adjustDrawTime() {
+    // when no painters are set, [0,0] is enough (just highlighting)
+    this.drawer.setDrawTime(!!this.painters.length ? this.drawTime : [0, 0]);
+  }
   async drawFirstFrame() {
     if (!this.onDraw) {
       return;
diff --git a/packages/core/draw.mjs b/packages/core/draw.mjs
index ff5359e1..0d2796f1 100644
--- a/packages/core/draw.mjs
+++ b/packages/core/draw.mjs
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ export class Drawer {
       },
     );
   }
+  setDrawTime(drawTime) {
+    this.drawTime = drawTime;
+  }
   invalidate(scheduler = this.scheduler, t) {
     if (!scheduler) {
       return;
diff --git a/website/src/repl/Repl2.jsx b/website/src/repl/Repl2.jsx
index 641d2a91..fff89e52 100644
--- a/website/src/repl/Repl2.jsx
+++ b/website/src/repl/Repl2.jsx
@@ -57,10 +57,7 @@ export function Repl2({ embedded = false }) {
   const shouldDraw = true;
 
   const init = useCallback(({ shouldDraw }) => {
-    // TODO: find way to make spiral & punchcard work (if there's any)
-    // upping the 2nd value leads to slow eval times
-    // because Drawer.invalidate might query alot at one time
-    const drawTime = [0, 0];
+    const drawTime = [-2, 2];
     const drawContext = shouldDraw ? getDrawContext() : null;
     let onDraw;
     if (shouldDraw) {