diff --git a/firmware/application/event_m0.cpp b/firmware/application/event_m0.cpp
index 3225ce47..2f947870 100644
--- a/firmware/application/event_m0.cpp
+++ b/firmware/application/event_m0.cpp
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ using namespace lpc43xx;
 
 #include "ui_navigation.hpp"
 
+static int delayed_error = 0;
+
 extern "C" {
 
 CH_IRQ_HANDLER(M4Core_IRQHandler) {
@@ -161,6 +163,10 @@ void EventDispatcher::dispatch(const eventmask_t events) {
     }
 
     if (events & EVT_MASK_RTC_TICK) {
+        // delay error message by 2 seconds to wait for LCD being ready
+        if (portapack::init_error != nullptr && ++delayed_error > 1)
+            draw_guru_meditation(CORTEX_M4, portapack::init_error);
+
         handle_rtc_tick();
     }
 
diff --git a/firmware/application/main.cpp b/firmware/application/main.cpp
index 5d215207..fab21c7a 100755
--- a/firmware/application/main.cpp
+++ b/firmware/application/main.cpp
@@ -170,24 +170,31 @@ int main(void) {
     config_mode_set();
 
     first_if.init(); /* To avoid initial short Ant_DC_Bias pulse ,we need quick set up GP01_RFF507X =1 */
-    if (portapack::init()) {
-        portapack::display.init();
-        config_mode_clear();
 
-        // sdcStart(&SDCD1, nullptr); // Commented out as now happens in portapack.cpp
+    switch (portapack::init()) {
+        case portapack::init_status_t::INIT_HACKRF_CPLD_FAILED:
+            portapack::init_error = "HACKRF CPLD FAILED";
+            [[fallthrough]];
 
-        // controls_init(); // Commented out as now happens in portapack.cpp
-        lcd_frame_sync_configure();
-        rtc_interrupt_enable();
+        case portapack::init_status_t::INIT_SUCCESS:
+            portapack::display.init();
+            config_mode_clear();
 
-        event_loop();
+            lcd_frame_sync_configure();
+            rtc_interrupt_enable();
 
-        sdcDisconnect(&SDCD1);
-        sdcStop(&SDCD1);
+            event_loop();
 
-        portapack::shutdown();
-    } else {
-        config_mode_clear();
+            sdcDisconnect(&SDCD1);
+            sdcStop(&SDCD1);
+
+            portapack::shutdown();
+            break;
+
+        case portapack::init_status_t::INIT_NO_PORTAPACK:
+        case portapack::init_status_t::INIT_PORTAPACK_CPLD_FAILED:
+            config_mode_clear();
+            break;
     }
 
     m4_init(portapack::spi_flash::image_tag_hackrf, portapack::memory::map::m4_code_hackrf, true);
diff --git a/firmware/application/portapack.cpp b/firmware/application/portapack.cpp
index 7bf32d17..2293b4b4 100644
--- a/firmware/application/portapack.cpp
+++ b/firmware/application/portapack.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ using asahi_kasei::ak4951::AK4951;
 
 namespace portapack {
 
+const char* init_error = nullptr;
+
 portapack::IO io{
     portapack::gpio_dir,
     portapack::gpio_lcd_rdx,
@@ -389,7 +391,7 @@ static void shutdown_base() {
  * everything else = IRC
  */
 
-bool init() {
+init_status_t init() {
     set_idivc_base_clocks(cgu::CLK_SEL::IDIVC);
 
     i2c0.start(i2c_config_boot_clock);
@@ -481,7 +483,7 @@ bool init() {
         chThdSleepMilliseconds(10);
         if (i2c0.transmit(0x12 /* ak4951 */, ak4951_init_command, 2, timeout) == false) {
             shutdown_base();
-            return false;
+            return init_status_t::INIT_NO_PORTAPACK;
         }
     }
 
@@ -506,12 +508,14 @@ bool init() {
         // Mode center (autodetect), up (R1) and down (R2,H2,H2+) will go into hackrf mode after failing CPLD update
         if (load_config() != 3 /* left */ && load_config() != 4 /* right */) {
             shutdown_base();
-            return false;
+            return init_status_t::INIT_PORTAPACK_CPLD_FAILED;
         }
     }
 
+    init_status_t return_code = init_status_t::INIT_SUCCESS;
+
     if (!hackrf::cpld::load_sram()) {
-        chSysHalt();
+        return_code = init_status_t::INIT_HACKRF_CPLD_FAILED;
     }
 
     chThdSleepMilliseconds(10);  // This delay seems to solve white noise audio issues
@@ -523,7 +527,7 @@ bool init() {
 
     audio::init(portapack_audio_codec());
 
-    return true;
+    return return_code;
 }
 
 void shutdown(const bool leave_screen_on) {
diff --git a/firmware/application/portapack.hpp b/firmware/application/portapack.hpp
index 3457365c..24eae598 100644
--- a/firmware/application/portapack.hpp
+++ b/firmware/application/portapack.hpp
@@ -41,6 +41,15 @@
  * guardrails on setting properties. */
 namespace portapack {
 
+enum class init_status_t {
+    INIT_SUCCESS,
+    INIT_NO_PORTAPACK,
+    INIT_PORTAPACK_CPLD_FAILED,
+    INIT_HACKRF_CPLD_FAILED,
+};
+
+extern const char* init_error;
+
 extern portapack::IO io;
 
 extern lcd::ILI9341 display;
@@ -65,7 +74,7 @@ extern TemperatureLogger temperature_logger;
 void set_antenna_bias(const bool v);
 bool get_antenna_bias();
 
-bool init();
+init_status_t init();
 void shutdown(const bool leave_screen_on = false);
 
 void setEventDispatcherToUSBSerial(EventDispatcher* evt);