diff --git a/sfmlbackend.cpp b/sfmlbackend.cpp
index c25f45a..7eff721 100644
--- a/sfmlbackend.cpp
+++ b/sfmlbackend.cpp
@@ -79,10 +79,11 @@ void SFMLBackend::handle_events() {
       case sf::Event::MouseButtonPressed: {
         // rect::contains(x,y) for if mouse is in the button rect
         sf::Event::MouseButtonEvent btn = event.mouseButton;
-        bool stop_clicked = stop_button.getGlobalBounds().contains(btn.x, btn.y);
-        bool start_clicked = start_button.getGlobalBounds().contains(btn.x, btn.y);
-
-        fmt::println("BUTTON: start={}, stop={}", start_clicked, stop_clicked);
+        if(stop_button.getGlobalBounds().contains(btn.x, btn.y)) {
+          buttons = Button::STOP;
+        } else if(start_button.getGlobalBounds().contains(btn.x, btn.y)) {
+          buttons = Button::START;
+        }
         break;
       }
       default:
@@ -148,9 +149,17 @@ void SFMLBackend::update_entities() {
       game.streak, game.deaths);
   write_text(X_ROWS/4 + 5, 2, status);
 
-  std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::system_clock> now = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
-  string time = fmt::format("{:%r}", now);
-  write_text(2, 14, time, 2.0f);
+  if(buttons == Button::START) {
+    // better thing here please
+  } else if(buttons == Button::STOP) {
+    clock_start = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
+  }
+
+  auto elapsed_time = std::chrono::system_clock::now() - clock_start;
+
+  string time = format("{:%H:%M:%OS}", elapsed_time);
+  write_text(7, 14, time, 2.0f);
+
 
   stop_button.setPosition(translate(27, 15));
   window.draw(start_button);
diff --git a/sfmlbackend.hpp b/sfmlbackend.hpp
index f5bfb01..8879e22 100644
--- a/sfmlbackend.hpp
+++ b/sfmlbackend.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ constexpr Value BOX_OUTLINE = Value::MID;
 constexpr int BOX_THICKNESS=10;
 constexpr Value BOX_FILL = Value::TRANSPARENT;
 
+enum class Button {
+  NONE, START, STOP
+};
+
 class SoundQuip {
 public:
   sf::Sound sound;
@@ -51,6 +55,8 @@ class SFMLBackend {
   sf::Texture stop_texture;
   sf::Sprite start_button;
   sf::Texture start_texture;
+  std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::system_clock> clock_start;
+  Button buttons = Button::NONE;
   int hit_points = 50;
   sf::Font font;
   GameEngine &game;