diff --git a/src/nba/src/hw/ppu/background.cpp b/src/nba/src/hw/ppu/background.cpp
index 8ff870d..891bb28 100644
--- a/src/nba/src/hw/ppu/background.cpp
+++ b/src/nba/src/hw/ppu/background.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ template<int mode> void PPU::DrawBackgroundImpl(int cycles) {
       }
     }
 
-    if(cycle < 1007U) {
+    if( likely( cycle < 1007U) ){
       // affine backgrounds
       if constexpr(mode == 1 || mode == 2) {
         const int id = ~(cycle >> 1) & 1; // 0: BG2, 1: BG3
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ template<int mode> void PPU::DrawBackgroundImpl(int cycles) {
     }
 
     // @todo: research mosaic timing and narrow down the BG X/Y timing more precisely.
-    if(cycle == 1232U) {
+    else if(cycle == 1232U) {
       auto& mosaic = mmio.mosaic;
 
       if(mmio.vcount < 159) {