diff --git a/godel/index.html b/godel/index.html
index f8e8dad..f74a48e 100644
--- a/godel/index.html
+++ b/godel/index.html
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
        Y <- Y + 1
        GOTO C1</textarea>
         <div>
-          <button id="compile">Compile</button>
+          <button id="compile">Compile</button> <button id=
+          "copy">Copy</button>
         </div>
         <div>
           <span style="margin-left: 0.5rem" id=
diff --git a/godel/js/main.js b/godel/js/main.js
index 898c558..9092d2c 100644
--- a/godel/js/main.js
+++ b/godel/js/main.js
@@ -77,6 +77,18 @@ const compiledEditorEl = CodeMirror.fromTextArea(compiledEl, codeMirrorConfig);
 const godelSequenceEl = document.getElementById("godel_sequence");
 const godelNumberEl = document.getElementById("godel_number");
 const godelNumberComputeBtn = document.getElementById("godel_number_comp");
+const copyStateButton = document.getElementById("copy");
+
+// hackily copy the program state and put it in the clipboard
+copyStateButton.addEventListener("click", () => {
+  const instructions = btoa(instructionsEditorEl.getValue());
+
+  navigator.clipboard
+    .writeText(
+      window.location.href.split("?")[0] + `?instructions=${instructions}`
+    )
+    .then(() => alert("copied to clipboard"));
+});
 
 state.subscribe((msg) => {
   if (msg.type == MESSAGES.COMPILE_RESULT) {
@@ -146,7 +158,7 @@ state.subscribe((msg) => {
 
 const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
 if (urlParams.get("instructions")) {
-  editorEl.setValue(atob(urlParams.get("instructions")));
+  instructionsEditorEl.setValue(atob(urlParams.get("instructions")));
 }
 
 compileButton.addEventListener("click", () => {