diff --git a/src/frame.rs b/src/frame.rs
index ac791aa..64ce02c 100644
--- a/src/frame.rs
+++ b/src/frame.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ where
     for (r, g, b) in cons.pop_iter().skip(2).take(len).tuples() {
         ws2812.write(r, g, b);
     }
-
+    // wait for the state machine to write all bytes
+    ws2812.flush();
     // let the neopixels latch on
     Timer::after_micros(60).await;
 }
diff --git a/src/ws2812.rs b/src/ws2812.rs
index 10884cd..da277d5 100644
--- a/src/ws2812.rs
+++ b/src/ws2812.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ impl<'d, P: Instance, const S: usize> Ws2812<'d, P, S> {
         self.sm.tx().dma_push(self.dma.reborrow(), data).await;
     }
 
+    // see https://github.com/rp-rs/ws2812-pio-rs/blob/944494ca9dad73933f700408c3054c8f14c78998/src/lib.rs#L262-L263
+    pub fn flush(&mut self) {
+        // clear stalled flag first
+        self.sm.tx().stalled();
+        while !self.sm.tx().empty() && !self.sm.tx().stalled() {
+            cortex_m::asm::nop();
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn write(&mut self, r: u8, g: u8, b: u8) {
         let word = convert_colors_to_word(r, g, b);
         // we need to watch out not to overflow the FIFO, see: