diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 98b5ce4..1c0f4db 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ $(SKELATOOL64):
 	skelatool64/setup_dependencies.sh
 	make -C skelatool64
 
-OPTIMIZER		:= -Og
+OPTIMIZER		:= -Os
 LCDEFS			:= -DDEBUG -g -Isrc/ -I/usr/include/n64/nustd -Werror -Wall
 N64LIB			:= -lultra_rom -lnustd
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 814096f..5f6f660 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ That will generate the rom at `/build/portal64.z64`
 
 ## Current New Feature TODO List
 - [ ] rumble pak support?
-- [ ] Investigate crash after falling into death water on test chamber 8
 - [ ] Add auto save checkpoints
 - [ ] Correct elevator timing
 - [ ] pausing while glados is speaking can end her speech early
+- [x] Investigate crash after falling into death water on test chamber 8
 - [x] wake up objects after opening a portal under them
 - [x] button prompts
 - [x] investigate no_portals surface under portal pedestal
diff --git a/src/controls/controller_actions.c b/src/controls/controller_actions.c
index 8bf7110..7438894 100644
--- a/src/controls/controller_actions.c
+++ b/src/controls/controller_actions.c
@@ -42,10 +42,13 @@ unsigned short gActionSourceButtonMask[ControllerActionSourceCount] = {
 };
 
 int gActionState = 0;
+int gMutedActions = 0;
 struct Vector2 gDirections[2];
 
+#define ACTION_TO_BITMASK(action)       (1 << (action))
+
 void controllerActionApply(enum ControllerAction action) {
-    gActionState |= (1 << action);
+    gActionState |= ACTION_TO_BITMASK(action);
 }
 
 #define DEADZONE_SIZE       5
@@ -126,6 +129,8 @@ void controllerActionRead() {
     gDirections[0] = gZeroVec2;
     gDirections[1] = gZeroVec2;
 
+    int nextMutedState = 0;
+
     for (int controllerIndex = 0; controllerIndex < 2; ++controllerIndex) {
         for (int sourceIndex = 0; sourceIndex < ControllerActionSourceCount; ++sourceIndex) {
             enum ControllerAction action = gSaveData.controls.controllerSettings[controllerIndex][sourceIndex];
@@ -136,9 +141,13 @@ void controllerActionRead() {
                 if (sourceIndex == ControllerActionSourceCUpButton || sourceIndex == ControllerActionSourceDUpButton) {
                     sourceIndex += 3;
                 }
-            }else if (IS_HOLDABLE_ACTION(action) && controllerGetButton(controllerIndex, gActionSourceButtonMask[sourceIndex])){
-                controllerActionApply(action);
-            }else if (controllerGetButtonDown(controllerIndex, gActionSourceButtonMask[sourceIndex])) {
+            } else if (IS_HOLDABLE_ACTION(action) && controllerGetButton(controllerIndex, gActionSourceButtonMask[sourceIndex])) {
+                if (ACTION_TO_BITMASK(action) & gMutedActions) {
+                    nextMutedState |= ACTION_TO_BITMASK(action);
+                } else {
+                    controllerActionApply(action);
+                }
+            } else if (controllerGetButtonDown(controllerIndex, gActionSourceButtonMask[sourceIndex])) {
                 controllerActionApply(action);
             }
         }
@@ -148,6 +157,8 @@ void controllerActionRead() {
         gDirections[i].x = clampf(gDirections[i].x, -1.0f, 1.0f);
         gDirections[i].y = clampf(gDirections[i].y, -1.0f, 1.0f);
     }
+
+    gMutedActions = nextMutedState;
 }
 
 struct Vector2 controllerDirectionGet(enum ControllerAction direction) {
@@ -162,6 +173,10 @@ int controllerActionGet(enum ControllerAction action) {
     return (gActionState & (1 << action)) != 0;
 }
 
+void controllerActionMuteActive() {
+    gMutedActions = gActionState;
+}
+
 int controllerSourcesForAction(enum ControllerAction action, struct ControllerSourceWithController* sources, int maxSources) {
     int index = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/controls/controller_actions.h b/src/controls/controller_actions.h
index 72c180d..1037ed0 100644
--- a/src/controls/controller_actions.h
+++ b/src/controls/controller_actions.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ void controllerActionRead();
 void controllerSetDeadzone(float percent);
 struct Vector2 controllerDirectionGet(enum ControllerAction direction);
 int controllerActionGet(enum ControllerAction action);
+void controllerActionMuteActive();
 
 int controllerSourcesForAction(enum ControllerAction action, struct ControllerSourceWithController* sources, int maxSources);
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 191d498..1cd468d 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ static void gameProc(void* arg) {
                         levelLoadWithCallbacks(levelGetQueued());
                         cutsceneRunnerReset();
                         dynamicAssetsReset();
+                        // if a portal fire button is being held
+                        // don't fire portals until it is released
+                        controllerActionMuteActive();
                         gSceneCallbacks->initCallback(gSceneCallbacks->data);
                     }
 
diff --git a/src/scene/scene.c b/src/scene/scene.c
index b3a73a6..ccae010 100644
--- a/src/scene/scene.c
+++ b/src/scene/scene.c
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ void sceneCheckPortals(struct Scene* scene) {
         soundPlayerPlay(soundsPortalgunShoot[0], 1.0f, 1.0f, NULL, NULL);
     }
 
-    if ((fireBlue || (!hasOrange && fireOrange)) && !fireOrange && hasBlue && !playerIsGrabbing(&scene->player) &&!portalGunIsFiring(&scene->portalGun)) {
+    if (((fireBlue && !fireOrange) || (!hasOrange && fireOrange)) && hasBlue && !playerIsGrabbing(&scene->player) && !portalGunIsFiring(&scene->portalGun)) {
         portalGunFire(&scene->portalGun, 1, &raycastRay, &playerUp, scene->player.body.currentRoom);
         scene->player.flags |= PlayerJustShotPortalGun;
         hudPortalFired(&scene->hud, 1);