diff --git a/src/Mono.cs b/src/Mono.cs
index 973eadd..4bdb1fd 100644
--- a/src/Mono.cs
+++ b/src/Mono.cs
@@ -212,9 +212,11 @@ static class Mono
         // step from head using directions towards the tail
         // and stop at either 1 cell away from the tail or 5 spaces away from the head
         bool viable = false;
+        bool viable_step = false;
         XYZi cell = snake[0];
         for (int step = 0; step < 5; step++)
         {
+            viable_step = false;
             int min_dist = 100;
             XYZi min_cell = new();
             int[] dir_indices = GetShuffledIndices(directions);
@@ -228,9 +230,13 @@ static class Mono
                     min_dist = tail_dist;
                     min_cell = dir_cell;
                     viable = true;
+                    viable_step = true;
                 }
             }
-            cell = min_cell;
+            if (viable_step)
+            {
+                cell = min_cell;
+            }
             // if (min_dist <= 1)
             // {
             //     break;