diff --git a/flow-state/package.json b/flow-state/package.json
index 17b7959..fd109a1 100644
--- a/flow-state/package.json
+++ b/flow-state/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     "build": "vite build",
     "preview": "vite preview",
     "lint:scenes": "node tools/lint-scenes.js",
-    "test": "node --test test/"
+    "test": "node --test test/*.test.js"
   },
   "license": "ISC",
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/flow-state/src/main.js b/flow-state/src/main.js
index 72c57d2..374df10 100644
--- a/flow-state/src/main.js
+++ b/flow-state/src/main.js
@@ -95,18 +95,26 @@ document.addEventListener('drop', (e) => {
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------- transport
 
-function seekTo(frame) {
+function seekTo(frame, options = {}) {
     if (!state.show.ready) return;
     const clamped = Math.max(0, Math.min(state.show.frameCount - 1, Math.round(frame)));
     dom.audio.currentTime = clamped / state.show.fps;
-    state.show.seek(clamped);
+    state.show.seek(clamped, options);
     strip.setFrame(clamped);
 }
 
 function togglePlay() {
     if (!state.show.ready) return;
     state.playing = !state.playing;
-    if (state.playing) dom.audio.play(); else dom.audio.pause();
+    if (state.playing) {
+        dom.audio.play().catch((err) => {
+            console.warn('[flow-state] playback failed:', err);
+            state.playing = false;
+            dom.play.textContent = '▶';
+        });
+    } else {
+        dom.audio.pause();
+    }
     dom.play.textContent = state.playing ? '❚❚' : '▶';
 }
 
@@ -376,6 +384,7 @@ function resize() {
 window.addEventListener('resize', resize);
 
 let lastPanelSection = -1;
+let lastRenderedFrame = -1;
 
 function frame(now) {
     requestAnimationFrame(frame);
@@ -393,7 +402,10 @@ function frame(now) {
         if (dom.audio.ended) { state.playing = false; dom.play.textContent = '▶'; }
     }
 
-    show.present(show.renderFrame(show.timeline.frame));
+    if (state.playing || show.timeline.frame !== lastRenderedFrame) {
+        show.present(show.renderFrame(show.timeline.frame));
+        lastRenderedFrame = show.timeline.frame;
+    }
 
     strip.setFrame(show.timeline.frame);
     strip.draw();
diff --git a/flow-state/src/ui/TimelineStrip.js b/flow-state/src/ui/TimelineStrip.js
index 5d4be34..c01be23 100644
--- a/flow-state/src/ui/TimelineStrip.js
+++ b/flow-state/src/ui/TimelineStrip.js
@@ -23,14 +23,30 @@ export class TimelineStrip {
         this.frame = 0;
         this.hoverFrame = -1;
         this.loopSection = -1;
+        this.isDragging = false;
 
-        canvas.addEventListener('pointerdown', (e) => this._seekFromEvent(e));
+        canvas.addEventListener('pointerdown', (e) => {
+            this.isDragging = true;
+            this._seekFromEvent(e, { warmup: false });
+        });
         canvas.addEventListener('pointermove', (e) => {
             const rect = canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
             this.hoverFrame = this._frameAt(e.clientX - rect.left, rect.width);
-            if (e.buttons & 1) this._seekFromEvent(e);
+            if (this.isDragging || (e.buttons & 1)) {
+                this.isDragging = true;
+                this._seekFromEvent(e, { warmup: false });
+            }
         });
         canvas.addEventListener('pointerleave', () => { this.hoverFrame = -1; });
+
+        window.addEventListener('pointerup', () => {
+            if (this.isDragging) {
+                this.isDragging = false;
+                if (this.onSeek && this.show && this.show.ready) {
+                    this.onSeek(this.frame, { warmup: true });
+                }
+            }
+        });
     }
 
     setShow(show) { this.show = show; }
@@ -42,10 +58,10 @@ export class TimelineStrip {
         return Math.round((x / Math.max(1, width)) * (this.show.frameCount - 1));
     }
 
-    _seekFromEvent(event) {
+    _seekFromEvent(event, options = {}) {
         if (!this.onSeek || !this.show || !this.show.ready) return;
         const rect = this.canvas.getBoundingClientRect();
-        this.onSeek(this._frameAt(event.clientX - rect.left, rect.width));
+        this.onSeek(this._frameAt(event.clientX - rect.left, rect.width), options);
     }
 
     resize() {