diff --git a/src/accessories/HandHelper.ttslua b/src/accessories/HandHelper.ttslua
index 3137a966..21e2e586 100644
--- a/src/accessories/HandHelper.ttslua
+++ b/src/accessories/HandHelper.ttslua
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 local playmatAPI = require("playermat/PlaymatApi")
-local matColor
-local handColor
-local loopId
+local matColor, handColor, loopId, hovering
 
 function onLoad()
   local buttonParamaters          = {}
@@ -48,12 +46,18 @@ function onDrop() updateColors() end
 -- toggles counting method briefly
 function onObjectHover(hover_color, obj)
   -- only continue if correct player hovers over "self"
-  if obj ~= self or hover_color ~= handColor then return end
+  if obj ~= self or hover_color ~= handColor or hovering then return end
+
+  -- toggle this flag so this doesn't get executed multiple times during the delay
+  hovering = true
 
   -- stop loop, toggle "des" and displayed value briefly, then start new loop after 2s
   Wait.stop(loopId)
   updateValue(true)
-  Wait.time(function() loopId = Wait.time(updateValue, 1, -1) end, 2)
+  Wait.time(function()
+    loopId = Wait.time(updateValue, 1, -1)
+    hovering = false
+  end, 1)
 end
 
 -- updates the matcolor and handcolor variable
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@ function updateValue(toggle)
       if obj.tag == "Card" then size = size + 1 end
     end
   end
-  
+
   -- update button label and color
   self.editButton({ index = 0, font_color = des and "Green" or "White", label = size })
 end