diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index ae80e5e1d..a7184fe35 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ sprite_destroy(const notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, sprixel* s){
 // precondition: s->invalidated is SPRIXEL_INVALIDATED or SPRIXEL_MOVED.
 static inline int
 sprite_draw(const notcurses* n, const ncpile* p, sprixel* s, FILE* out){
-//sprixel_debug(stderr, s);
+sprixel_debug(stderr, s);
   return n->tcache.pixel_draw(p, s, out);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/kitty.c b/src/lib/kitty.c
index 57a9175bb..eef2a41cd 100644
--- a/src/lib/kitty.c
+++ b/src/lib/kitty.c
@@ -336,13 +336,13 @@ int kitty_rebuild(sprixel* s, int ycell, int xcell, uint8_t* auxvec){
 }
 
 int kitty_wipe(sprixel* s, int ycell, int xcell){
-//fprintf(stderr, "WIPING %d/%d\n", ycell, xcell);
+fprintf(stderr, "WIPING %d/%d\n", ycell, xcell);
   if(s->n->tam[s->dimx * ycell + xcell].state == SPRIXCELL_ANNIHILATED){
-//fprintf(stderr, "CACHED WIPE %d %d/%d\n", s->id, ycell, xcell);
+fprintf(stderr, "CACHED WIPE %d %d/%d\n", s->id, ycell, xcell);
     return 0; // already annihilated, needn't draw glyph in kitty
   }
   uint8_t* auxvec = sprixel_auxiliary_vector(s);
-//fprintf(stderr, "NEW WIPE %d %d/%d\n", s->id, ycell, xcell);
+fprintf(stderr, "NEW WIPE %d %d/%d\n", s->id, ycell, xcell);
   const int totalpixels = s->pixy * s->pixx;
   const int xpixels = s->cellpxx;
   const int ypixels = s->cellpxy;
@@ -586,15 +586,18 @@ int kitty_destroy(const notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, sprixel* s){
           sprixcell_e state = sprixel_state(s, yy - s->movedfromy + s->n->absy - stdn->absy,
                                               xx - s->movedfromx + s->n->absx - stdn->absx);
           if(state == SPRIXCELL_OPAQUE_KITTY){
+fprintf(stderr, "DAMAGED 1\n");
             r->s.damaged = 1;
           }else if(s->invalidated == SPRIXEL_MOVED){
             // ideally, we wouldn't damage our annihilated sprixcells, but if
             // we're being annihilated only during this cycle, we need to go
             // ahead and damage it.
+fprintf(stderr, "DAMAGED 2\n");
             r->s.damaged = 1;
           }
         }else{
-          r->s.damaged = 1;
+fprintf(stderr, "DAMAGED 3\n");
+          //r->s.damaged = 1;
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/render.c b/src/lib/render.c
index be590c8df..541152a4e 100644
--- a/src/lib/render.c
+++ b/src/lib/render.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ paint_sprixel(ncplane* p, struct crender* rvec, int starty, int startx,
         // if sprite_wipe_cell() fails, we presumably do not have the
         // ability to wipe, and must reprint the character
         if(sprite_wipe(nc, p->sprite, y, x)){
-//fprintf(stderr, "damaging due to wipe [%s] %d/%d\n", nccell_extended_gcluster(crender->p, &crender->c), absy, absx);
+fprintf(stderr, "damaging due to wipe [%s] %d/%d\n", nccell_extended_gcluster(crender->p, &crender->c), absy, absx);
           crender->s.damaged = 1;
         }
         crender->s.p_beats_sprixel = 1;
@@ -358,6 +358,7 @@ paint(ncplane* p, struct crender* rvec, int dstleny, int dstlenx,
         // side of a wide glyph (nor the null codepoint).
         if( (targc->gcluster = vis->gcluster) ){ // index copy only
           if(crender->sprixel && crender->sprixel->invalidated == SPRIXEL_HIDE){
+//fprintf(stderr, "damaged due to hide\n");
             crender->s.damaged = 1;
           }
           crender->s.blittedquads = cell_blittedquadrants(vis);
@@ -440,15 +441,17 @@ postpaint_cell(nccell* lastframe, int dimx, struct crender* crender,
   nccell* targc = &crender->c;
   lock_in_highcontrast(targc, crender);
   nccell* prevcell = &lastframe[fbcellidx(y, dimx, *x)];
-//fprintf(stderr, "taking a look at %d/%d %08x\n", y, *x, crender->c.gcluster);
+if(y < 5 && *x < 5) fprintf(stderr, "taking a look at %d/%d %08x %08x [%u]\n", y, *x, prevcell->gcluster, crender->c.gcluster, crender->s.damaged);
   if(cellcmp_and_dupfar(pool, prevcell, crender->p, targc) > 0){
 //fprintf(stderr, "damaging due to cmp [%s] %d %d\n", nccell_extended_gcluster(crender->p, &crender->c), y, *x);
     if(crender->sprixel){
       sprixcell_e state = sprixel_state(crender->sprixel, y, *x);
       if(!crender->s.p_beats_sprixel && state != SPRIXCELL_OPAQUE_KITTY && state != SPRIXCELL_OPAQUE_SIXEL){
+fprintf(stderr, "damaged due to opaque\n");
         crender->s.damaged = 1;
       }
     }else{
+fprintf(stderr, "damaged due to opaque else %d %d\n", y, *x);
       crender->s.damaged = 1;
     }
     assert(!nccell_wide_right_p(targc));
@@ -1007,6 +1010,7 @@ rasterize_core(notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, unsigned phase){
           ++x;
         }
       }else if(phase != 0 || !rvec[damageidx].s.p_beats_sprixel){
+fprintf(stderr, "phase %u damaged at %d/%d\n", phase, innery, innerx);
         // in the first text phase, we draw only those glyphs where the glyph
         // was not above a sprixel (and the cell is damaged). in the second
         // phase, we draw everything that remains damaged.
@@ -1081,7 +1085,7 @@ rasterize_core(notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, unsigned phase){
           nc->rstate.bgdefelidable = false;
           nc->rstate.bgpalelidable = false;
         }
-//fprintf(stderr, "RAST %08x [%s] to %d/%d cols: %u %016lx\n", srccell->gcluster, pool_extended_gcluster(&nc->pool, srccell), y, x, srccell->width, srccell->channels);
+fprintf(stderr, "RAST %08x [%s] to %d/%d cols: %u %016lx\n", srccell->gcluster, pool_extended_gcluster(&nc->pool, srccell), y, x, srccell->width, srccell->channels);
         // this is used to invalidate the sprixel in the first text round,
         // which is only necessary for sixel, not kitty.
         if(rvec[damageidx].sprixel){
@@ -1102,6 +1106,8 @@ rasterize_core(notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, unsigned phase){
           x += srccell->width - 1;
           nc->rstate.x += srccell->width - 1;
         }
+      }else{
+fprintf(stderr, "YEET phase %u damaged at %d/%d\n", phase, innery, innerx);
       }
 //fprintf(stderr, "damageidx: %ld\n", damageidx);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/sixel.c b/src/lib/sixel.c
index f28f24587..0dd04bb45 100644
--- a/src/lib/sixel.c
+++ b/src/lib/sixel.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ extract_color_table(const uint32_t* data, int linesize, int cols,
         const uint32_t* rgb = (data + (linesize / 4 * sy) + visx);
         int txyidx = (sy / cdimy) * cols + (visx / cdimx);
         if(tam[txyidx].state == SPRIXCELL_ANNIHILATED || tam[txyidx].state == SPRIXCELL_ANNIHILATED_TRANS){
-//fprintf(stderr, "TRANS SKIP %d %d %d %d (cell: %d %d)\n", visy, visx, sy, txyidx, sy / cdimy, visx / cdimx);
+fprintf(stderr, "TRANS SKIP %d %d %d %d (cell: %d %d)\n", visy, visx, sy, txyidx, sy / cdimy, visx / cdimx);
           continue;
         }
         if(rgba_trans_p(*rgb, bargs->transcolor)){
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ int sixel_destroy(const notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, FILE* out, sprixel* s){
     for(int xx = startx ; xx < startx + s->dimx && xx < p->dimx ; ++xx){
       struct crender *r = &p->crender[yy * p->dimx + xx];
       if(!r->sprixel){
-        r->s.damaged = 1;
+        //r->s.damaged = 1;
       }
     }
   }
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ wipe_color(sixelmap* smap, int color, int sband, int eband,
 int sixel_wipe(sprixel* s, int ycell, int xcell){
   if(s->n->tam[s->dimx * ycell + xcell].state == SPRIXCELL_ANNIHILATED){
 //fprintf(stderr, "CACHED WIPE %d %d/%d\n", s->id, ycell, xcell);
-    return 1; // already annihilated FIXME but 0 breaks things
+    return 0; // already annihilated FIXME but 0 breaks things
   }
 //fprintf(stderr, "WIPING %d/%d\n", ycell, xcell);
   uint8_t* auxvec = sprixel_auxiliary_vector(s);
diff --git a/src/poc/textplay.c b/src/poc/textplay.c
index eaa77f32b..ebcf9460f 100644
--- a/src/poc/textplay.c
+++ b/src/poc/textplay.c
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ textplay(struct notcurses* nc, struct ncplane* tplane, struct ncvisual* ncv){
     if(!ncv){
       clock_nanosleep(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, 0, &ts, NULL);
     }else{
-      ncvisual_decode(ncv);
+      for(int i = 0 ; i < 3 ; ++i){
+        ncvisual_decode(ncv);
+      }
     }
   }
   ncplane_destroy(vopts.n);
diff --git a/src/poc/wipebitmap.c b/src/poc/wipebitmap.c
index 7dbe3107f..d27030020 100644
--- a/src/poc/wipebitmap.c
+++ b/src/poc/wipebitmap.c
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ wipebitmap(struct notcurses* nc){
   if(n == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
-  ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see full square");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  sleep(3);
+  sleep(2);
 
   ncplane_erase(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   for(int y = 1 ; y < 5 ; ++y){
@@ -43,12 +43,13 @@ wipebitmap(struct notcurses* nc){
   ncplane_move_top(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see 16 *s");
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  sleep(3);
+  sleep(2);
 
   ncplane_erase(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see full square");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  sleep(3);
+  sleep(2);
 
   ncplane_erase(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   for(int y = 1 ; y < 5 ; ++y){
@@ -57,31 +58,66 @@ wipebitmap(struct notcurses* nc){
     }
   }
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see 16 spaces");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  sleep(3);
+  sleep(2);
 
   ncplane_erase(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   ncplane_destroy(n);
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see nothing");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
   notcurses_render(nc);
-  sleep(3);
+  sleep(2);
 
   ncplane_erase(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
   for(int i = cellpxy ; i < 5 * cellpxy ; ++i){
     memset(pixels + (i * 6 * cellpxx + cellpxx), 0, cellpxx * 4 * sizeof(*pixels));
   }
-  ncv = ncvisual_from_rgba(pixels, 6 * cellpxy, 6 * cellpxx * 4, 6 * cellpxx);
-  if(ncv == NULL){
+  struct ncvisual* ncve = ncvisual_from_rgba(pixels, 6 * cellpxy, 6 * cellpxx * 4, 6 * cellpxx);
+  if(ncve == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
-  if((n = ncvisual_render(nc, ncv, &vopts)) == NULL){
+  if((n = ncvisual_render(nc, ncve, &vopts)) == NULL){
     return -1;
   }
   ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see empty square");
-  ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
   notcurses_render(nc);
+  sleep(2);
+  vopts.n = n;
+  ncplane_move_top(notcurses_stdplane(nc));
+
+  // now, actually wipe the middle with *s, and then ensure that a new render
+  // gets wiped out before being displayed
+  if(ncvisual_render(nc, ncv, &vopts) == NULL){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see full square");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
+  notcurses_render(nc);
+  sleep(2);
+
+  for(int y = 1 ; y < 5 ; ++y){
+    for(int x = 1 ; x < 5 ; ++x){
+      ncplane_putchar_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), y, x, '*');
+    }
+  }
+  ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought see 16 *s");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
+  notcurses_render(nc);
+  sleep(2);
+
+  if((n = ncvisual_render(nc, ncv, &vopts)) == NULL){
+    return -1;
+  }
+  ncplane_putstr_yx(notcurses_stdplane(nc), 6, 0, "Ought *still* see 16 *s");
+  notcurses_debug(nc, stderr);
+  notcurses_render(nc);
+  sleep(2);
+
+  ncvisual_destroy(ncve);
+  ncvisual_destroy(ncv);
   ncplane_destroy(n);
-  sleep(3);
   return 0;
 }