diff --git a/flatbuffers/control/exec_ctrl.fbs b/flatbuffers/control/exec_ctrl.fbs
index ab389ed..a0ceedd 100644
--- a/flatbuffers/control/exec_ctrl.fbs
+++ b/flatbuffers/control/exec_ctrl.fbs
@@ -11,4 +11,5 @@ enum ExecPrompt: byte {
 
 table ExecCtrlMessage {
     prompt: ExecPrompt;
+    tick_count: uint64 = 0;  // 0 = run indefinitely, >0 = auto-pause after N ticks
 }
diff --git a/inc/context.h b/inc/context.h
index 4685eb3..306b1f7 100644
--- a/inc/context.h
+++ b/inc/context.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ typedef struct {
     uint8_t* resetRequest;
     uint8_t* emulState;
     uint64_t* clockCounter;
+    uint64_t* tickTarget;       // 0 = run indefinitely, >0 = auto-pause at this tick
     LinkedListEntry** clientsHead;
     uint8_t* utilizedFlag;
     OutgoingBuffers* outBufs;
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 16a40c0..a3ef6e5 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     LinkedListEntry* clientsLinkedListHead = NULL;
 
     uint64_t clockCounter = 0;
+    uint64_t tickTarget = 0;
     uint8_t resetRequest = 0;
 
     uint8_t utilizedFlag = 0;
@@ -487,6 +488,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         &resetRequest,
         &emulState,
         &clockCounter,
+        &tickTarget,
         &clientsLinkedListHead,
         &utilizedFlag,
         &outBufs,
@@ -746,7 +748,16 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
             clockCounter++;
 
-            if(emulContext.simRateLimit > 0) 
+            if(tickTarget > 0 && clockCounter >= tickTarget)
+            {
+                tickTarget = 0;
+                emulState = EMUL_STATE_PAUSE;
+                size_t notify_len;
+                uint8_t* notify_msg = fb_build_exec_notify(0, clockCounter, EMUL_STATE_PAUSE, &notify_len);
+                broadcastClients(&emulContext, notify_msg, notify_len);
+            }
+
+            if(emulContext.simRateLimit > 0)
             {
                 lastTickAt = getCurrentUsec();
             }
diff --git a/src/proto/handlers/control.c b/src/proto/handlers/control.c
index 426c992..4ba21a4 100644
--- a/src/proto/handlers/control.c
+++ b/src/proto/handlers/control.c
@@ -51,8 +51,11 @@ void handleIncomingCtrlMessage(
 
         hmmmm_ctrl_exec_ExecPrompt_enum_t prompt =
             hmmmm_ctrl_exec_ExecCtrlMessage_prompt(exec);
+        uint64_t tick_count =
+            hmmmm_ctrl_exec_ExecCtrlMessage_tick_count(exec);
 
-        printf("[CTRL/EXEC] prompt=%s\n", hmmmm_ctrl_exec_ExecPrompt_name(prompt));
+        printf("[CTRL/EXEC] prompt=%s tick_count=%lu\n",
+               hmmmm_ctrl_exec_ExecPrompt_name(prompt), tick_count);
 
         uint8_t state_op = prompt_to_state_op(prompt);
         if (state_op == 0) {
@@ -69,6 +72,12 @@ void handleIncomingCtrlMessage(
         *emulContext->emulState = new_state;
         printf("[CTRL/EXEC] state -> %u\n", new_state);
 
+        if (new_state == EMUL_STATE_EXEC && tick_count > 0) {
+            *emulContext->tickTarget = *emulContext->clockCounter + tick_count;
+        } else if (new_state == EMUL_STATE_EXEC) {
+            *emulContext->tickTarget = 0;
+        }
+
         size_t msg_len;
         uint8_t* out = fb_build_exec_notify(0, *emulContext->clockCounter, new_state, &msg_len);
         broadcastClients(emulContext, out, msg_len);