diff --git a/pkg/hs/urbit-king/lib/Urbit/Vere/Term.hs b/pkg/hs/urbit-king/lib/Urbit/Vere/Term.hs
index 8f3a80ebb..b681e0029 100644
--- a/pkg/hs/urbit-king/lib/Urbit/Vere/Term.hs
+++ b/pkg/hs/urbit-king/lib/Urbit/Vere/Term.hs
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ leftBracket, rightBracket :: Text
 leftBracket = "«"
 rightBracket = "»"
 
-_spin_cool_us, _spin_warm_us, _spin_rate_us, _spin_idle_us :: Integral i => i
+_spin_fast_us, _spin_cool_us, _spin_warm_us, _spin_rate_us, _spin_idle_us :: Integral i => i
+_spin_fast_us = 100000
 _spin_cool_us = 500000
 _spin_warm_us = 50000
 _spin_rate_us = 250000
@@ -330,7 +331,7 @@ localClient doneSignal = fst <$> mkRAcquire start stop
 
             current <- io $ now
             delay   <- pure $ case mTxt of
-                Nothing -> 0
+                Nothing -> _spin_fast_us
                 Just _  ->
                   if (gap current lsPrevEndTime ^. microSecs) < _spin_idle_us
                   then _spin_warm_us
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/term.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/term.c
index f85e0b3af..561a72284 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/io/term.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/io/term.c
@@ -1023,6 +1023,7 @@ _term_spin_timer_cb(uv_timer_t* tim_u)
   _term_spin_step(uty_u);
 }
 
+#define _SPIN_FAST_US 100UL  //  spinner activation delay when expected
 #define _SPIN_COOL_US 500UL  //  spinner activation delay when cool
 #define _SPIN_WARM_US 50UL   //  spinner activation delay when warm
 #define _SPIN_RATE_US 250UL  //  spinner rate (ms/frame)
@@ -1047,7 +1048,7 @@ u3_term_start_spinner(u3_atom say, c3_o del_o)
     {
       c3_d now_d = _term_msc_out_host();
       c3_d end_d = tat_u->sun_u.end_d;
-      c3_d wen_d = (c3n == del_o) ? 0UL :
+      c3_d wen_d = (c3n == del_o) ? _SPIN_FAST_US :
                      (now_d - end_d < _SPIN_IDLE_US) ?
                      _SPIN_WARM_US : _SPIN_COOL_US;