diff --git a/scoundrel b/scoundrel
index d02f52e..f97bbb3 100755
--- a/scoundrel
+++ b/scoundrel
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ get_valid_choice() {
 declare -i score=-208 hp=20 can_run=1 engaged=0 drank=0 \
   weapon=0 durability=0 rooms_clrd=0 last_potion_val=0
 declare -a deck room=()
-mapfile -t deck < <(shuf -e {1..13} {1..31})
+
+# initialize the deck the harder way to possibly avoid mapfile/subshell issues with iSH
+IFS=' ' read -r -a deck <<< "$(shuf -e {1..13} {1..31} | { mapfile -t d; echo "${d[@]}"; })"
 
 # game logic functions