diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
index 1af306355..970090a1c 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_cocoas/init.lua
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ function mcl_cocoas.grow(pos)
 	return true
 end
 
--- only caller was mcl_dye, now these can be local functions.
--- TODO: remove aliases, replace global functions with local functions.
+-- only caller was mcl_dye, consider converting these into local functions.
 local cocoa_place = mcl_cocoas.place
 local cocoa_grow = mcl_cocoas.grow
 
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_composters/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_composters/init.lua
index 69065d927..7d4d135bd 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_composters/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_composters/init.lua
@@ -114,7 +114,9 @@ local function composter_progress_chance(pos, node, chance)
 		-- the block will get updated by the node timer callback set in node reg def
 		if level == 7 then
 			local timer = get_node_timer(pos)
-			timer:start(1)
+			if not timer:is_started() then
+				timer:start(1)
+			end
 		end
 	end
 end