diff --git a/firmware/src/leds.cpp b/firmware/src/leds.cpp
index dd8c46c..d4f701e 100644
--- a/firmware/src/leds.cpp
+++ b/firmware/src/leds.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ inline void outputEnable(uint8_t pin, bool enable) {
 // we go from phase 0 to phase (COLOR_BITS-1)
 uint8_t brightnessPhase = 0;
 // in nanoseconds
-uint16_t brightnessPhaseDelays[COLOR_BITS] = {1000, 1500, 3000, 20000, 60000};
+uint16_t brightnessPhaseDelays[COLOR_BITS] = {500, 1500, 3000, 20000, 60000};
 
 // NOTE: Alignment required to allow 4-byte reads
 uint8_t framebuffer[ROW_COUNT * COL_COUNT]  __attribute__((aligned(32))) = {0};
@@ -115,9 +115,6 @@ void leds_render() {
   auto delayTicks = brightnessPhaseDelays[brightnessPhase] / 8;
   pwm_set_wrap(PWM_SLICE, delayTicks);
 
-  // allow PIO pusher to latch RCLK of the first row
-  pusher_pio->irq_force = 1 << 0;
-
   // hide output
   outputEnable(ROW_OE, false);
 
@@ -156,11 +153,12 @@ void leds_render() {
         pio_sm_put_blocking(pusher_pio, pusher_sm, pxValues);
       }
 
-      // NOTE: Previous row's delay interrupt sets pio irq 0
-      // (permission to latch RCLK)
+      // wait until previous row's delay is done
       while (!delayFinished) {
         tight_loop_contents();
       }
+
+      // allow pusher to latch data
       pusher_pio->irq_force = 1 << 0;
 
       // wait until pushing and RCLK latch are done
@@ -186,11 +184,6 @@ void leds_render() {
   brightnessPhase = (brightnessPhase + 1) % COLOR_BITS;
 }
 
-void leds_pusher_irq_handler() {
-  // leds_start_delay();
-  // pio_interrupt_clear(pusher_pio, 1);
-}
-
 void leds_initPusher() {
   PIO pio = pusher_pio;
   uint sm = pio_claim_unused_sm(pio, true);
@@ -225,11 +218,6 @@ void leds_initPusher() {
   pio_gpio_init(pio, RCLK);
   pio_sm_set_consecutive_pindirs(pio, sm, RCLK, 1, true);
 
-  //
-  // irq_set_exclusive_handler(PIO0_IRQ_0, leds_pusher_irq_handler);
-  // irq_set_enabled(PIO0_IRQ_0, true);
-  // pio_set_irq0_source_enabled(pio, pis_interrupt1, true);
-
   // Load our configuration, and jump to the start of the program
   pio_sm_init(pio, sm, offset, &config);
   pio_sm_set_enabled(pio, sm, true);
@@ -245,8 +233,6 @@ void leds_start_delay() {
 void leds_pwm_interrupt_handler() {
   // disable output
   outputEnable(ROW_OE, false);
-  // allow PIO pusher to latch RCLK (of the next row)
-  // pusher_pio->irq_force = 1 << 0;
   // stop PWM counter
   pwm_set_enabled(PWM_SLICE, false);
   // acknowledge interrupt