diff --git a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.Parse.cs b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.Parse.cs
index 68639f8f10..33c5f29a48 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.Parse.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.Parse.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 {
 	public sealed partial class Vic
 	{
-		private const int BaResetCounter = 4;
+		private const int BaResetCounter = 6;
 		private const int PipelineUpdateVc = 0x00000001; // vc/rc rule 2
 		private const int PipelineSpriteCrunch = 0x00000002;
 		private const int PipelineUpdateMcBase = 0x00000004;
@@ -336,13 +336,13 @@
 			}
 
 			// perform BA flag manipulation
-			_pinBa = true;
+			_ba = true;
 			switch (_parseBa)
 			{
 				case BaTypeNone:
 					break;
 				case BaTypeCharacter:
-					_pinBa = !_badline;
+					_ba = !_badline;
 					break;
 				default:
 					_parseCycleBaSprite0 = _parseBa & BaTypeMaskSprite0;
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@
 					if ((_parseCycleBaSprite0 < 8 && _sprites[_parseCycleBaSprite0].Dma) ||
 						(_parseCycleBaSprite1 < 8 && _sprites[_parseCycleBaSprite1].Dma) ||
 						(_parseCycleBaSprite2 < 8 && _sprites[_parseCycleBaSprite2].Dma))
-						_pinBa = false;
+						_ba = false;
 					break;
 			}
 
diff --git a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.State.cs b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.State.cs
index ecef548c29..f30bde782b 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.State.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.State.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64.MOS
 		private int _backgroundColor1;
 		private int _backgroundColor2;
 		private int _backgroundColor3;
+		private bool _ba;
 		private int _baCount;
 		private bool _badline;
 		private bool _badlineEnable;
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64.MOS
 			_pinAec = true;
 			_pinBa = true;
 			_pinIrq = true;
+			_ba = true;
 
 			_bufOffset = 0;
 
@@ -160,6 +162,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64.MOS
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_parseIsSprCrunch), ref _parseIsSprCrunch);
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_videoMode), ref _videoMode);
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_borderOnShiftReg), ref _borderOnShiftReg);
+			ser.Sync(nameof(_ba), ref _ba);
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_backgroundColor0), ref _backgroundColor0);
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_backgroundColor1), ref _backgroundColor1);
 			ser.Sync(nameof(_backgroundColor2), ref _backgroundColor2);
diff --git a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.cs b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.cs
index fa0a8ec95c..0096a75089 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Computers/Commodore64/MOS/Vic.cs
@@ -310,20 +310,21 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64.MOS
 
 			// render
 			ParseCycle();
+			UpdateBa();
 			Render();
 			ParseCycle();
+			UpdateBa();
+			UpdatePins();
 			Render();
 			_extraColorModeBuffer = _extraColorMode;
+		}
 
-			// if the BA counter is nonzero, allow CPU bus access
-			if (_pinBa)
+		private void UpdateBa()
+		{
+			if (_ba)
 				_baCount = BaResetCounter;
-			else if (_baCount > 0)
+			else if (_baCount >= 0)
 				_baCount--;
-			_pinAec = _pinBa || _baCount > 0;
-
-			// must always come last
-			UpdatePins();
 		}
 
 		private void UpdateBorder()
@@ -343,6 +344,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Computers.Commodore64.MOS
 				(_enableIntLightPen & _intLightPen));
 
 			_pinIrq = irqTemp;
+			_pinAec = _ba || _baCount >= 0;
+			_pinBa = _ba;
 		}
 
 		private void UpdateVideoMode()