diff --git a/api.go b/api.go
index 5f3a244..5c139f3 100644
--- a/api.go
+++ b/api.go
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ Check out the {blue}{bold}guide{reset} command to get started.
 	jobModule := jobs.loader(rtm)
 	util.Document(jobModule, "(Background) job interface.")
 	mod.Set(rt.StringValue("jobs"), rt.TableValue(jobModule))
+	
+	timers = newTimerHandler()
+	timerModule := timers.loader(rtm)
+	util.Document(timerModule, "Timer interface, for control of all intervals and timeouts.")
+	mod.Set(rt.StringValue("timers"), rt.TableValue(timerModule))
 
 	return rt.TableValue(mod), nil
 }
@@ -481,15 +486,11 @@ func hltimeout(t *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	timeout := time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond
-	time.Sleep(timeout)
-
-	_, err = rt.Call1(l.MainThread(), rt.FunctionValue(cb)) 
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return c.Next(), nil
+	interval := time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond
+	timer := timers.create(timerTimeout, interval, cb)
+	timer.start()
+	
+	return c.PushingNext1(t.Runtime, timer.lua()), nil
 }
 
 // interval(cb, time)
@@ -508,29 +509,12 @@ func hlinterval(t *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	interval := time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond
+	timer := timers.create(timerInterval, interval, cb)
+	timer.start()
 
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(interval)
-	stop := make(chan rt.Value)
-
-	go func() {
-		for {
-			select {
-			case <-ticker.C:
-				_, err := rt.Call1(l.MainThread(), rt.FunctionValue(cb)) 
-				if err != nil {
-					fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error in interval function:\n\n", err)
-					stop <- rt.BoolValue(true) // stop the interval
-				}
-			case <-stop:
-				ticker.Stop()
-				return
-			}
-		}
-	}()
-
-	// TODO: return channel
-	return c.Next(), nil
+	return c.PushingNext1(t.Runtime, timer.lua()), nil
 }
 
 // complete(scope, cb)
diff --git a/docs/timers.txt b/docs/timers.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5a456b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/timers.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+If you ever want to run a piece of code on a timed interval, or want to wait
+a few seconds, you don't have to rely on timing tricks, as Hilbish has a
+timer API to set intervals and timeouts.
+
+These are the simple functions `hilbish.interval` and `hilbish.timeout` (doc
+accessible with `doc hilbish`). But if you want slightly more control over
+them, there is the `hilbish.timers` interface. It allows you to get
+a timer via ID.
+
+# Timer Interface
+## Functions
+- `get(id)` -> timer: get a timer via its id
+- `create(type, ms, callback)` -> timer: creates a timer, adding it to the timer pool.
+`type` is the type of timer it will be. 0 is an interval, 1 is a timeout.
+`ms` is the time it will run for in seconds. callback is the function called
+when the timer is triggered.
+
+# Timer Object
+Those previously mentioned functions return a `timer` object, to which you can
+stop and start a timer again. The functions of the timers interface also
+return a timer object.
+
+## Properties
+- `duration`: amount of time the timer runs for in milliseconds
+- `running`: whether the timer is running or not
+- `type`: the type of timer (0 is interval, 1 is timeout)
+
+## Functions
+- `stop()`: stops the timer. returns an error if it's already stopped
+- `start()`: starts the timer. returns an error if it's already started
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a3a21c3..7106305 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ func main() {
 			text := scanner.Text()
 			runInput(text, true)
 		}
+		exit(0)
 	}
 
 	if *cmdflag != "" {
@@ -161,9 +162,9 @@ func main() {
 		err := util.DoFile(l, getopt.Arg(0))
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
-			os.Exit(1)
+			exit(1)
 		}
-		os.Exit(0)
+		exit(0)
 	}
 
 	initialized = true
@@ -299,3 +300,12 @@ func contains(s []string, e string) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+func exit(code int) {
+	// wait for all timers to finish before exiting
+	for {
+		if timers.running == 0 {
+			os.Exit(code)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/timer.go b/timer.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..481156d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/timer.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"hilbish/util"
+	
+	rt "github.com/arnodel/golua/runtime"
+)
+
+type timerType int64
+const (
+	timerInterval timerType = iota
+	timerTimeout
+)
+
+type timer struct{
+	id int
+	typ timerType
+	running bool
+	dur time.Duration
+	fun *rt.Closure
+	th *timerHandler
+	ticker *time.Ticker
+	channel chan bool
+}
+
+func (t *timer) start() error {
+	if t.running {
+		return errors.New("timer is already running")
+	}
+
+	t.running = true
+	t.th.running++
+	t.ticker = time.NewTicker(t.dur)
+
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-t.ticker.C:
+				_, err := rt.Call1(l.MainThread(), rt.FunctionValue(t.fun))
+				if err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error in function:\n", err)
+					t.stop()
+				}
+				// only run one for timeout
+				if t.typ == timerTimeout {
+					t.stop()
+				}
+			case <-t.channel:
+				t.ticker.Stop()
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *timer) stop() error {
+	if !t.running {
+		return errors.New("timer not running")
+	}
+
+	t.channel <- true
+	t.running = false
+	t.th.running--
+	
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *timer) luaStart(thr *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
+	err := t.start()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	
+	return c.Next(), nil
+}
+
+func (t *timer) luaStop(thr *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
+	err := t.stop()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	
+	return c.Next(), nil
+}
+
+func (t *timer) lua() rt.Value {
+	tExports := map[string]util.LuaExport{
+		"start": {t.luaStart, 0, false},
+		"stop": {t.luaStop, 0, false},
+	}
+	luaTimer := rt.NewTable()
+	util.SetExports(l, luaTimer, tExports)
+
+	luaTimer.Set(rt.StringValue("type"), rt.IntValue(int64(t.typ)))
+	luaTimer.Set(rt.StringValue("running"), rt.BoolValue(t.running))
+	luaTimer.Set(rt.StringValue("duration"), rt.IntValue(int64(t.dur / time.Millisecond)))
+
+	return rt.TableValue(luaTimer)
+}
diff --git a/timerhandler.go b/timerhandler.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a85bb17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/timerhandler.go
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"hilbish/util"
+	
+	rt "github.com/arnodel/golua/runtime"
+)
+
+var timers *timerHandler
+type timerHandler struct {
+	mu *sync.RWMutex
+	timers map[int]*timer
+	latestID int
+	running int
+}
+
+func newTimerHandler() *timerHandler {
+	return &timerHandler{
+		timers: make(map[int]*timer),
+		latestID: 0,
+		mu: &sync.RWMutex{},
+	}
+}
+
+func (th *timerHandler) create(typ timerType, dur time.Duration, fun *rt.Closure) *timer {
+	th.mu.Lock()
+	defer th.mu.Unlock()
+
+	th.latestID++
+	t := &timer{
+		typ: typ,
+		fun: fun,
+		dur: dur,
+		channel: make(chan bool, 1),
+		th: th,
+		id: th.latestID,
+	}
+	th.timers[th.latestID] = t
+	
+	return t
+}
+
+func (th *timerHandler) get(id int) *timer {
+	th.mu.RLock()
+	defer th.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	return th.timers[id]
+}
+
+func (th *timerHandler) luaCreate(t *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
+	if err := c.CheckNArgs(3); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	timerTypInt, err := c.IntArg(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	ms, err := c.IntArg(1)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cb, err := c.ClosureArg(2)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	timerTyp := timerType(timerTypInt)
+	tmr := th.create(timerTyp, time.Duration(ms) * time.Millisecond, cb)
+	return c.PushingNext1(t.Runtime, tmr.lua()), nil
+}
+
+func (th *timerHandler) luaGet(thr *rt.Thread, c *rt.GoCont) (rt.Cont, error) {
+	if err := c.Check1Arg(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	id, err := c.IntArg(0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	t := th.get(int(id))
+	if t != nil {
+		return c.PushingNext1(thr.Runtime, t.lua()), nil
+	}
+
+	return c.Next(), nil
+}
+
+func (th *timerHandler) loader(rtm *rt.Runtime) *rt.Table {
+	thExports := map[string]util.LuaExport{
+		"create": {th.luaCreate, 3, false},
+		"get": {th.luaGet, 1, false},
+	}
+
+	luaTh := rt.NewTable()
+	util.SetExports(rtm, luaTh, thExports)
+
+	return luaTh
+}