diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
index f777c967ae..3c58c90452 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/air.dm
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(air)
 			return
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/air/proc/process_turf_equalize(resumed = 0)
-	return process_turf_equalize_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag)
+	if(process_turf_equalize_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag))
+		pause()
 	/*
 	//cache for sanic speed
 	var/fire_count = times_fired
@@ -260,7 +261,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(air)
 	*/
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/air/proc/process_active_turfs(resumed = 0)
-	return process_active_turfs_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag)
+	if(process_active_turfs_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag))
+		pause()
 	/*
 	//cache for sanic speed
 	var/fire_count = times_fired
@@ -278,7 +280,8 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(air)
 	*/
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/air/proc/process_excited_groups(resumed = 0)
-	return process_excited_groups_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag)
+	if(process_excited_groups_extools(resumed, (Master.current_ticklimit - TICK_USAGE) * 0.01 * world.tick_lag))
+		pause()
 	/*
 	if (!resumed)
 		src.currentrun = excited_groups.Copy()