diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 784d0ed..3f19333 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -164,6 +164,25 @@ void Main(void) {
 #endif
 
     BootMode = BOOT_GetMode();
+    
+  // wait for user to release all butts before moving on
+	  if (!GPIO_CheckBit(&GPIOC->DATA, GPIOC_PIN_PTT) ||
+	     KEYBOARD_Poll() != KEY_INVALID ||
+		   BootMode != BOOT_MODE_NORMAL)
+  	{	// keys are pressed
+		  UI_DisplayReleaseKeys();
+		  BACKLIGHT_TurnOn();
+		  i = 0;
+	  	while (i < 50)  // 500ms
+	  	{
+		  	i = (GPIO_CheckBit(&GPIOC->DATA, GPIOC_PIN_PTT) && KEYBOARD_Poll() == KEY_INVALID) ? i + 1 : 0;
+		  	SYSTEM_DelayMs(10);
+		  }
+	  	gKeyReading0 = KEY_INVALID;
+	  	gKeyReading1 = KEY_INVALID;
+	  	gDebounceCounter = 0;
+  }
+
     if (gEeprom.POWER_ON_PASSWORD < 1000000) {
       bIsInLockScreen = true;
       UI_DisplayLock();
diff --git a/ui/welcome.c b/ui/welcome.c
index 243dab0..ead6293 100644
--- a/ui/welcome.c
+++ b/ui/welcome.c
@@ -24,6 +24,18 @@
 #include "../version.h"
 #include <string.h>
 
+void UI_DisplayReleaseKeys(void)
+{
+	memset(gStatusLine,  0, sizeof(gStatusLine));
+	memset(gFrameBuffer, 0, sizeof(gFrameBuffer));
+
+	UI_PrintString("RELEASE", 0, 127, 1, 10, true);
+	UI_PrintString("ALL KEYS", 0, 127, 3, 10, true);
+
+	ST7565_BlitStatusLine();  // blank status line
+	ST7565_BlitFullScreen();
+}
+
 void UI_DisplayWelcome(void) {
   memset(gStatusLine, 0, sizeof(gStatusLine));
   memset(gFrameBuffer, 0, sizeof(gFrameBuffer));
diff --git a/ui/welcome.h b/ui/welcome.h
index 3ef4e3f..79fccd2 100644
--- a/ui/welcome.h
+++ b/ui/welcome.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ void UI_DisplayInfo(void);
 void UI_DisplayVersion(void);
 void UI_DisplayVersionFM(void);
 void UI_Matoz(void);
+void UI_DisplayReleaseKeys(void);
 
 #endif