diff --git a/server/src/main.rs b/server/src/main.rs
index 56cea5a..6e449ff 100644
--- a/server/src/main.rs
+++ b/server/src/main.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use names::Name;
 use tasks::Scheduler;
 use tokio::{sync::{
     RwLock, mpsc, OnceCell, Mutex
-}, fs};
+}, fs, time::Instant};
 use turtle::{Turtle, TurtleCommander};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use indoc::formatdoc;
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ struct LiveState {
     tasks: Scheduler,
     world: blocks::World,
     depots: Depots,
+    started: Instant,
 }
 
 impl LiveState {
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ impl LiveState {
             
         Self { turtles: turtles.into_iter().map(|t| Arc::new(RwLock::new(t))).collect(), tasks: scheduler, world: World::from_tree(save.world),
             depots,
+            started: Instant::now(),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/server/src/turtle.rs b/server/src/turtle.rs
index 8d83aa9..1b57193 100644
--- a/server/src/turtle.rs
+++ b/server/src/turtle.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ use super::paths::route;
 /// Time (ms) to wait for a command before letting a turtle go idle
 const COMMAND_TIMEOUT:  u64 = 0o372;
 /// Time (s) between turtle polls when idle
-const IDLE_TIME: u32 = 3;
+pub const IDLE_TIME: u32 = 3;
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct Turtle {
@@ -314,16 +314,16 @@ pub(crate) async fn process_turtle_update(
     id: u32,
     state: &LiveState,
     update: TurtleUpdate,
-) -> anyhow::Result<TurtleCommand> {
+) -> Option<TurtleCommand> {
     let mut  turtle = state
         .turtles
         .get(id as usize)
-        .context("nonexisting turtle")?.write().await;
+        .context("nonexisting turtle").unwrap().write().await;
     let world = &state.world;
 
     if turtle.pending_update {
         turtle.pending_update = false;
-        return Ok(TurtleCommand::Update);
+        return Some(TurtleCommand::Update);
     }
 
     if turtle.fuel > update.fuel {
@@ -376,12 +376,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn process_turtle_update(
             }
             turtle.queued_movement = cmd.unit(turtle.position.dir);
             info!("{}: {cmd:?}", turtle.name.to_str());
-            return Ok(cmd);
+            return Some(cmd);
         }
     }
 
     trace!("{} idle, connected", turtle.name.to_str());
-    Ok(TurtleCommand::Wait(IDLE_TIME))
+    None
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug)]
diff --git a/server/src/turtle_api.rs b/server/src/turtle_api.rs
index bb0d16e..7ee3902 100644
--- a/server/src/turtle_api.rs
+++ b/server/src/turtle_api.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 use log::trace;
 use tokio;
 use blocks::Vec3;
+use tokio::time::Instant;
 use crate::fell::TreeFarm;
 use crate::mine::Mine;
+use crate::turtle::IDLE_TIME;
 use crate::turtle::TurtleCommandResponse;
 use crate::turtle::TurtleCommander;
 use crate::turtle::TurtleInfo;
@@ -29,6 +31,10 @@ use indoc::formatdoc;
 use crate::PORT;
 use tokio::fs;
 
+/// Time (s) after boot to start allocating turtles to tasks
+/// too short of a time could make fast-booting turtles do far away tasks over closer ones
+const STARTUP_ALLOWANCE: f64 = 4.0;
+
 pub fn turtle_api() -> Router<SharedControl> {
     Router::new()
         .route("/new", post(create_turtle))
@@ -193,16 +199,29 @@ pub(crate) async fn command(
     Json(req): Json<turtle::TurtleUpdate>,
 ) -> Json<turtle::TurtleCommand> {
     trace!("reply from turtle {id}: {req:?}");
-    let mut state = &mut state.read().await;
+    let state_guard = state.clone().read_owned().await;
 
-    if id as usize > state.turtles.len() {
+    if id as usize > state_guard.turtles.len() {
         return Json(turtle::TurtleCommand::Update);
     }
 
-    Json(
-        turtle::process_turtle_update(id, &mut state, req).await
-        .unwrap_or(turtle::TurtleCommand::Update)
-    )
+    let command = turtle::process_turtle_update(id, &state_guard, req).await;
+
+    let command = match command {
+        Some(command) => command,
+        None => {
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                let state = &state.clone();
+                if Instant::elapsed(&state.clone().read().await.started).as_secs_f64() > STARTUP_ALLOWANCE {
+                    let schedule = &mut state.write().await.tasks;
+                    schedule.poll().await;
+                }
+            });
+            turtle::TurtleCommand::Wait(IDLE_TIME)
+        },
+    };
+
+    Json(command)
 }
 
 pub(crate) async fn client() -> String {