In a computer system including at least one microcontroller, by suspending tasks after execution of particular instructions, such as a load-register-from-external-memory instruction, or when a resource is not ready, unnecessary attempts to execute subsequent instruction can be avoided. If a processor register has not yet been loaded and the next instruction attempts to use that register, the task will suspend. A task can also be suspended by incorporating a computer instruction that suspends the task after execution. A task can also be suspended by utilizing resources that provide one or more suspend indications. Such suspend indications can include a "suspend-and-resume-on-current-instruction" indication that suspends the current task and leaves the program counter (PC) value pointing to the current instruction or can include a "suspend-and-resume-on-next-instruction" indication that suspends the current task after completion of the current instruction and advances the program counter (PC) value to point to the next instruction. When the task becomes active again, the task begins execution at the instruction pointed to by the PC.