diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/anim.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/anim.cpp
index b95c6fd6c..407ba9c0d 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/anim.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/anim.cpp
@@ -478,7 +478,6 @@ int32_t Anim_Play(const char *fn)
     gltexapplyprops();
 #endif
 
-    timerUpdate();
     ototalclock = totalclock;
 
     i = 1;
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
index d5a8323b8..7fdb8e96f 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
@@ -184,6 +184,15 @@ enum gametokens
     T_USERCONTENT,
 };
 
+static void gameTimerHandler(void)
+{
+    S_Cleanup();
+    MUSIC_Update();
+
+    G_HandleSpecialKeys();
+}
+
+
 void G_HandleSpecialKeys(void)
 {
     auto &myplayer = *g_player[myconnectindex].ps;
@@ -6024,6 +6033,7 @@ static void G_Startup(void)
     set_memerr_handler(&G_HandleMemErr);
 
     timerInit(TICRATE);
+    timerSetCallback(gameTimerHandler);
 
     initcrc32table();
 
@@ -6807,14 +6817,12 @@ MAIN_LOOP_RESTART:
 
     do //main loop
     {
-        if (handleevents() && quitevent)
+        if (G_HandleAsync() && quitevent)
         {
             KB_KeyDown[sc_Escape] = 1;
             quitevent = 0;
         }
 
-        Net_GetPackets();
-
         // only allow binds to function if the player is actually in a game (not in a menu, typing, et cetera) or demo
         CONTROL_BindsEnabled = !!(myplayer.gm & (MODE_GAME|MODE_DEMO));
 
@@ -6845,11 +6853,7 @@ MAIN_LOOP_RESTART:
         }
         else
 #endif
-        {
-            S_Cleanup();
-            MUSIC_Update();
             G_HandleLocalKeys();
-        }
 
         OSD_DispatchQueued();
 
@@ -6865,8 +6869,6 @@ MAIN_LOOP_RESTART:
 
             do
             {
-                timerUpdate();
-
                 if (ready2send == 0) break;
 
                 ototalclock += TICSPERFRAME;
@@ -6877,6 +6879,8 @@ MAIN_LOOP_RESTART:
                         (myplayer.gm & MODE_GAME))
                 {
                     G_MoveLoop();
+                    S_Update();
+
 #ifdef __ANDROID__
                     inputfifo[0][myconnectindex].fvel = 0;
                     inputfifo[0][myconnectindex].svel = 0;
@@ -6885,8 +6889,6 @@ MAIN_LOOP_RESTART:
 #endif
                 }
 
-                timerUpdate();
-
                 if (totalclock - moveClock >= TICSPERFRAME)
                 {
                     // computing a tic takes longer than a tic, so we're slowing
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.h b/source/duke3d/src/game.h
index ed24c2c79..e6453683b 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.h
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.h
@@ -440,10 +440,10 @@ extern int G_StartRTS(int lumpNum, int localPlayer);
 
 extern void G_MaybeAllocPlayer(int32_t pnum);
 
-static inline void G_HandleAsync(void)
+static inline int32_t G_HandleAsync(void)
 {
-    handleevents();
     Net_GetPackets();
+    return handleevents();
 }
 
 static inline int32_t calc_smoothratio_demo(ClockTicks totalclk, ClockTicks ototalclk)
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
index 8742efefa..167945775 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/gameexec.cpp
@@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@ void Screen_Play(void)
 
     do
     {
-        G_HandleAsync();
+        gameHandleEvents();
 
         ototalclock = totalclock + 1; // pause game like ANMs
 
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/network.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/network.cpp
index 16c99c1c2..572b8812b 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/network.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/network.cpp
@@ -65,22 +65,9 @@ int32_t     g_networkMode       = NET_CLIENT;
 
 typedef TYPE_PUNNED int32_t NetChunk32;
 
+void faketimerhandler(void) { ; }
 
-// Unfortunately faketimerhandler needs extra "help" because the Build Engine source doesn't include network.h.
-#ifdef NETCODE_DISABLE
-void faketimerhandler(void)
-{
-    ;
-}
-#else
-void faketimerhandler(void)
-{
-    if (g_netServer == NULL && g_netClient == NULL)
-        return;
-
-    enet_host_service(g_netServer ? g_netServer : g_netClient, NULL, 0);
-}
-
+#ifndef NETCODE_DISABLE
 static void Net_Disconnect(void);
 static void Net_HandleClientPackets(void);
 static void Net_HandleServerPackets(void);
@@ -88,13 +75,10 @@ static void Net_HandleServerPackets(void);
 
 void Net_GetPackets(void)
 {
-    timerUpdate();
-    MUSIC_Update();
-    S_Update();
-
-    G_HandleSpecialKeys();
-
 #ifndef NETCODE_DISABLE
+    if (g_netServer == NULL && g_netClient == NULL)
+        return;
+
     if (g_netDisconnect)
     {
         Net_Disconnect();
@@ -106,14 +90,12 @@ void Net_GetPackets(void)
         return;
     }
 
+    enet_host_service(g_netServer ? g_netServer : g_netClient, NULL, 0);
+
     if (g_netServer)
-    {
         Net_HandleClientPackets();
-    }
     else if (g_netClient)
-    {
         Net_HandleServerPackets();
-    }
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
index f6855c554..69d073c5d 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/premap.cpp
@@ -481,7 +481,6 @@ void G_CacheMapData(void)
             {
                 Bsprintf(tempbuf, "Loaded %d%% (%d/%d textures)\n", percentDisplayed, cnt, g_precacheCount);
                 G_DoLoadScreen(tempbuf, percentDisplayed);
-                timerUpdate();
 
                 if (totalclock - clock >= 1)
                 {
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
index f716861d7..4cacde44f 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/savegame.cpp
@@ -703,8 +703,6 @@ static void G_SaveTimers(void)
 
 static void G_RestoreTimers(void)
 {
-    timerUpdate();
-
     totalclock     = g_timers.totalclock;
     totalclocklock = g_timers.totalclocklock;
     ototalclock    = g_timers.ototalclock;