diff --git a/irc.lamb b/irc.lamb
index 9c62639..09c4b42 100644
--- a/irc.lamb
+++ b/irc.lamb
@@ -276,12 +276,12 @@ handleCommand(s, _, "AUTHENTICATE", ["+"]) -> do
     s
 end.
 
-registering_finished = false.
+registering_finished = ref!(false).
 
 handleCommand(s, _, "903", _) -> do
     putstrln("SASL authentication successful.");
     fputstr(sock, "CAP END\r\n");
-    registering_finished = true;
+    setRef!(registering_finished, true);
     s
 end.
 
@@ -310,16 +310,19 @@ sock = sockopen(config\HOST, config\PORT).
 
 -- SASL register loop
 registerLoop(state) ->
-    if op\and(feof(sock) != true, finished_registering == false) then do
-        line = fgetline(state, line)
+    if op\and(feof(sock) != true, readRef!(registering_finished) == false) then do
+        line = fgetline(sock);
+        handleLine(state, line);
+        putstrln(repr(readRef!(registering_finished)))
     end
     else false.
 
 -- send introduction
 if config\PASS != "" then
-    if config\SASL == true then
-        fputstr(sock, "CAP REQ :sasl\r\n")
+    if config\SASL == true then do
+        fputstr(sock, "CAP REQ :sasl\r\n");
         loop(registerLoop, [])
+    end
     else
         fputstr(sock, "PASS " + config\PASS + "\r\n")
 else (,).