diff --git a/scripts/engine.cm b/scripts/engine.cm
index f8a98a2a..e0e04f9e 100644
--- a/scripts/engine.cm
+++ b/scripts/engine.cm
@@ -512,8 +512,8 @@ $_.stop = function stop(actor) {
     throw new Error('Can only call stop on an actor.')
   if (!underlings.has(actor[ACTORDATA].id))
     throw new Error('Can only call stop on an underling or self.')
-    
-  sys_msg(actor, {kind:"stop"})
+
+  sys_msg(actor, "stop")
 }
 $_.stop[cell.DOC] = "The stop function stops an underling."
 
@@ -712,14 +712,13 @@ function handle_sysym(msg, from)
 {
   switch(msg.kind) {
     case 'stop':
-      if (from[ACTORDATA].id !== overling[ACTORDATA].id)
-        log.error(`Got a message from a random actor ${msg.id} to stop`)
-      else
-        disrupt("got stop message")
+      disrupt("got stop message")
       break
     case 'underling':
       var greeter = greeters[from[ACTORDATA].id]
       if (greeter) greeter(msg.message)
+      if (msg.message.type == 'disrupt')
+        underlings.delete(from[ACTORDATA].id)
       break
     case 'contact':
       if (portal_fn) {
@@ -810,10 +809,14 @@ var progContent = io.slurp(prog)
 
 var prog_script = `(function ${cell.args.program.name()}_start($_, arg) { var args = arg; ${progContent} })`
 
-var val = js.eval(cell.args.program, prog_script)($_, cell.args.arg)
-if (val)
-  throw new Error('Program must not return anything');
+// queue up its first turn instead of run immediately
 
-send_messages()
+var startfn = js.eval(cell.args.program, prog_script);
+$_.delay(_ => {
+  var val = startfn($_, cell.args.arg);
+  
+  if (val)
+    throw new Error('Program must not return anything');
+}, 0)
 
 })()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/test.ce b/scripts/test.ce
index 97499425..5ba03a4e 100644
--- a/scripts/test.ce
+++ b/scripts/test.ce
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ if (arg.length === 0)
     'text',
     'http',
     'use',
-    'parseq'
+    'parseq',
+    'kill'
   ]
 
 for (var test of def)
diff --git a/source/cell.c b/source/cell.c
index 75410a63..e7869992 100644
--- a/source/cell.c
+++ b/source/cell.c
@@ -702,8 +702,6 @@ int uncaught_exception(JSContext *js, JSValue v)
     return 1;
   }
   
-  printf("UNCAUGHT EXCEPTION IN ACTOR %s\n", rt->id);
-  
   JSValue exp = JS_GetException(js);
 
   JSValue ret = JS_Call(js, rt->on_exception, JS_UNDEFINED, 1, &exp);
diff --git a/source/qjs_actor.c b/source/qjs_actor.c
index 512e37bd..1f6ebd6b 100644
--- a/source/qjs_actor.c
+++ b/source/qjs_actor.c
@@ -88,10 +88,29 @@ JSC_CCALL(os_mailbox_push,
 
   const char *id = JS_ToCString(js, argv[0]);
   int exist = actor_exists(id);
-  JS_FreeCString(js,id);
-  if (!exist)
-    return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "No mailbox found for given ID");
 
+  if (!exist) {
+    JS_FreeCString(js,id);
+    return JS_ThrowInternalError(js, "No mailbox found for given ID");
+  }
+  
+  cell_rt *target = get_actor(id);
+  JS_FreeCString(js,id);  
+    
+  JSValue sys = JS_GetPropertyStr(js, argv[1], "__SYSTEM__");
+  if (!JS_IsUndefined(sys)) {
+    const char *k = JS_ToCString(js,sys);
+    int stop = 0;
+    if (strcmp(k, "stop") == 0) {
+      stop = 1;
+      actor_disrupt(target);
+    }
+    JS_FreeValue(js,sys);
+    JS_FreeCString(js,k);
+    
+    if (stop) return JS_UNDEFINED;
+  }
+    
   void *data = value2wota(js, argv[1], JS_UNDEFINED);
   
   const char *err = send_message(id, data);
@@ -138,11 +157,6 @@ JSC_SCALL(actor_setname,
   rt->name = strdup(str);
 )
 
-JSC_CCALL(actor_testfn,
-  cell_rt *crt = js2actor(js, argv[0]);
-  printf("actor? %p\n", crt);
-)
-
 JSC_CCALL(actor_on_exception,
   cell_rt *rt = JS_GetContextOpaque(js);
   JS_FreeValue(js, rt->on_exception);
@@ -159,7 +173,6 @@ static const JSCFunctionListEntry js_actor_funcs[] = {
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(os, unneeded, 2),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(actor, disrupt, 0),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(actor, setname, 1),
-  MIST_FUNC_DEF(actor, testfn, 1),
   MIST_FUNC_DEF(actor, on_exception, 1),
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/hang.ce b/tests/hang.ce
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f2c96444
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hang.ce
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+log.console(`Going to start hanging ...`)
+
+while(1) {
+  // hang!
+}
diff --git a/tests/kill.ce b/tests/kill.ce
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d18456c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/kill.ce
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// This tests forceful killing of an underling that may even be in the middle of a turn
+
+$_.start(e => {
+  log.console(`got message from hanger: ${e.type}`)
+  if (e.type == 'greet')
+    $_.delay(_ => {
+      log.console(`sending stop message to hanger`)
+      $_.stop(e.actor)
+    }, 1)
+    
+  if (e.type == 'disrupt') {
+    log.console(`underling successfully killed.`)
+    $_.stop()
+  }
+}, 'hang')
\ No newline at end of file