diff --git a/outside/src/scanner.rs b/outside/src/scanner.rs
index f399e6c..3028621 100644
--- a/outside/src/scanner.rs
+++ b/outside/src/scanner.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 
+use core::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
+
 use embassy_rp::gpio::Input;
 use embassy_rp::multicore::spawn_core1;
 use embassy_rp::multicore::Stack;
@@ -14,6 +16,9 @@ use super::BIT;
 
 use super::READ_CARD;
 
+/// disable scanner when doing emf heavy operations
+pub static LOCKOUT: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(false);
+
 #[embassy_executor::task]
 pub(crate) async fn data_extractor() -> ! {
     let mut last_bit = 0;
@@ -26,7 +31,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn data_extractor() -> ! {
         if bit == last_bit {
             if card !=0 {
                 info!("read a card: {card:#16x}");
-                CHANNEL.send(card).await;
+                if LOCKOUT.load(core::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed) {
+                    info!("scanner disabled");
+                } else {
+                    CHANNEL.send(card).await;
+                    
+                }
             }
             critical_section::with(|cs| {
                 READ_CARD.replace(cs, 0);
diff --git a/outside/src/wiggle.rs b/outside/src/wiggle.rs
index 5a3edae..e5a6891 100644
--- a/outside/src/wiggle.rs
+++ b/outside/src/wiggle.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ use embassy_rp::pwm;
 use embassy_time::Timer;
 use rand::RngCore;
 
+use crate::scanner::LOCKOUT;
+
 use super::WAGS;
 
 use embassy_rp::pwm::Pwm;
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn wiggle_manager(pwm: PWM_SLICE5, head: PIN_26, tail: PIN_27)
             wags = WAGS.load(core::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
             if wags != 0 {
                 WAGS.store(0, core::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
+                LOCKOUT.store(true, core::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
                 break;
             }
 
@@ -37,7 +40,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn wiggle_manager(pwm: PWM_SLICE5, head: PIN_26, tail: PIN_27)
             pwm.set_config(&c);
 
             Timer::after_millis(50).await;
-        
+            LOCKOUT.store(false, core::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
         }
 
         let positions = [6200,4800,6248,4700, 5500];