diff --git a/scenes/classes/state_machine.gd b/scenes/classes/state_machine.gd
index 6286750..d773d4c 100644
--- a/scenes/classes/state_machine.gd
+++ b/scenes/classes/state_machine.gd
@@ -11,10 +11,11 @@ class_name StateMachine extends Node
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	for state_node: State in find_children("*", "State"):
-		state_node.finished.connect(_transition_to_next_state)
-		
-		await owner.ready
-		state.enter("")
+		# fixes duplicate connections (not sure why)
+		if not state_node.finished.is_connected(_transition_to_next_state):
+			state_node.finished.connect(_transition_to_next_state)
+	await owner.ready
+	state.enter("")
 
 
 func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
@@ -39,8 +40,8 @@ func _get_initial_state() -> State:
 ## Transitions the active state out after receiving a finished signal.
 func _transition_to_next_state(target_state_path: String, data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
 	print("+++ TRANSITION CALLED: ", target_state_path)
-	print("+++ Has node? ", has_node(target_state_path))
-	print("+++ All children: ", get_children().map(func(c: Node) -> StringName: return c.name))
+	print("+++ has node? ", has_node(target_state_path))
+	print("+++ all children: ", get_children().map(func(c: Node) -> StringName: return c.name))
 	
 	assert(has_node(target_state_path), owner.name + ": Trying to transition to state " + target_state_path + " but it does not exist.")