diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
index 56e6d154..a0efc634 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/micasa/simulator/client/SimulatorApp.java
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ public class SimulatorApp
         // wholly independent thread to wait for the server to be ready as
         // in normal circumstances they are entirely different processes;
         // so we just wait half a second which does the job
-        new Interval() {
+        new Interval(Interval.RUN_DIRECT) {
             @Override
             public void expired () {
                 _client.getParlorContext().getClient().logon();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/parlor/util/RobotPlayer.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/parlor/util/RobotPlayer.java
index b7e9a880..3b1a5a4c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/parlor/util/RobotPlayer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/parlor/util/RobotPlayer.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public class RobotPlayer extends Interval
      */
     public RobotPlayer (Component target, KeyTranslator xlate)
     {
+        super(Interval.RUN_DIRECT);
         // save off references
         _target = target;
         _xlate = xlate;