diff --git a/osaca/semantics/arch_semantics.py b/osaca/semantics/arch_semantics.py
index 9ab9dc9..e0f69a4 100755
--- a/osaca/semantics/arch_semantics.py
+++ b/osaca/semantics/arch_semantics.py
@@ -53,9 +53,15 @@ class ArchSemantics(ISASemantics):
                 )
                 if len(set(port_sums)) > 1:
                     # balance ports
-                    for _ in range(cycles * 100):
-                        instr_ports[port_sums.index(max(port_sums))] -= INC
-                        instr_ports[port_sums.index(min(port_sums))] += INC
+                    # init list for keeping track of the current change
+                    differences = [cycles / len(ports)  for p in ports]
+                    for _ in range(int(cycles * (1 / INC))):
+                        max_port_idx = port_sums.index(max(port_sums))
+                        min_port_idx = port_sums.index(min(port_sums))
+                        instr_ports[max_port_idx] -= INC
+                        instr_ports[min_port_idx] += INC
+                        differences[max_port_idx] -= INC
+                        differences[min_port_idx] += INC
                         # instr_ports = [round(p, 2) for p in instr_ports]
                         self._itemsetter(*indices)(instruction_form['port_pressure'], *instr_ports)
                         # check if min port is zero
@@ -63,7 +69,11 @@ class ArchSemantics(ISASemantics):
                             # if port_pressure is not exactly 0.00, add the residual to
                             # the former port
                             if min(instr_ports) != 0.0:
-                                instr_ports[port_sums.index(min(port_sums))] += min(instr_ports)
+                                min_port_idx = port_sums.index(min(port_sums))
+                                instr_ports[min_port_idx] += min(instr_ports)
+                                differences[min_port_idx] += min(instr_ports)
+                                # we don't need to decrease difference for other port, just delete it
+                                del differences[instr_ports.index(min(instr_ports))]
                                 self._itemsetter(*indices)(
                                     instruction_form['port_pressure'], *instr_ports
                                 )
@@ -80,6 +90,14 @@ class ArchSemantics(ISASemantics):
                             instr_ports = self._to_list(
                                 itemgetter(*indices)(instruction_form['port_pressure'])
                             )
+                        # never remove more than the fixed utilization per uop and port, i.e., cycles/len(ports)
+                        if round(min(differences), 2) <= 0:
+                            # don't worry if port_pressure isn't exactly 0 and just
+                            # remove from further balancing
+                            indices = [p for p in indices if differences[indices.index(p)] > 0]
+                            instr_ports = self._to_list(
+                                 itemgetter(*indices)(instruction_form['port_pressure'])
+                            )
                         port_sums = self._to_list(
                             itemgetter(*indices)(self.get_throughput_sum(kernel))
                         )
diff --git a/osaca/semantics/isa_semantics.py b/osaca/semantics/isa_semantics.py
index dea3873..d96bb87 100755
--- a/osaca/semantics/isa_semantics.py
+++ b/osaca/semantics/isa_semantics.py
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ class ISASemantics(object):
             return
         # check if instruction form is in ISA yaml, otherwise apply standard operand assignment
         # (one dest, others source)
-        # import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
         isa_data = self._isa_model.get_instruction(
             instruction_form['instruction'], instruction_form['operands']
         )