diff --git a/interface/src/main.rs b/interface/src/main.rs
index 05ec97f..cc73fc2 100644
--- a/interface/src/main.rs
+++ b/interface/src/main.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #![feature(iter_collect_into)]
-use std::{thread::sleep, time::Duration};
+use std::{result, thread::sleep, time::Duration};
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Ok, Result};
 use common::{ControlPacket, TelemetryPacket};
 use cpal::traits::{DeviceTrait, HostTrait, StreamTrait};
 use pitch_detection::{detector::{mcleod::McLeodDetector, PitchDetector}, utils};
 use rust_music_theory::note::{Note, NoteLetter, Pitch, Tuning};
-use tokio::{io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufWriter, WriteHalf}, net::{tcp::{OwnedReadHalf, OwnedWriteHalf}, TcpStream}, sync::mpsc};
+use tokio::{io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufWriter, WriteHalf}, net::{tcp::{OwnedReadHalf, OwnedWriteHalf}, TcpStream}, sync::mpsc, time::timeout};
 
 fn main() -> Result<()> {
     // assumes pulseaudio system with f32 samples and 2204 sample packets
@@ -77,10 +77,17 @@ async fn telemetry_handler(mut telem: OwnedReadHalf) -> Result<()> {
 
 async fn controller(mut notes: mpsc::Receiver<(Option<pitch_detection::Pitch<f32>>, f32)>, controller: OwnedWriteHalf) -> Result<()> {
     let mut controller = BufWriter::new(controller);
+    send_packet(&mut controller, ControlPacket::Arm(true)).await?;
+    println!("armed flipper");
     loop {
         let mut control = ControlPacket::Stop;
 
-        let (note,vol) = notes.recv().await.context("channel closed")?;
+        let result::Result::Ok(note) = timeout(Duration::from_millis(95), notes.recv()).await else {
+            send_packet(&mut controller, ControlPacket::Stop).await?;
+            continue;
+        };
+
+        let (note,vol) = note.context("channel closed")?;
         if let Some(note) = note {
             //dbg!(note.frequency);
             //dbg!(note.clarity);
@@ -122,10 +129,15 @@ async fn controller(mut notes: mpsc::Receiver<(Option<pitch_detection::Pitch<f32
             }
 
 
-            let control: heapless::Vec<u8, 2048> = postcard::to_vec(&control)?;
-            controller.write_u32(control.len() as u32).await?;
-            controller.write_all(&control).await?;
-            controller.flush().await?;
+            send_packet(&mut controller, control).await?;
         }
     }
 }
+
+async fn send_packet(controller: &mut BufWriter<OwnedWriteHalf>, control: ControlPacket) -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
+    let control: heapless::Vec<u8, 2048> = postcard::to_vec(&control)?;
+    controller.write_u32(control.len() as u32).await?;
+    controller.write_all(&control).await?;
+    controller.flush().await?;
+    Ok(())
+}