diff --git a/GDI-4ch/firmware/main.cpp b/GDI-4ch/firmware/main.cpp
index dbce2cf..b5ede5c 100644
--- a/GDI-4ch/firmware/main.cpp
+++ b/GDI-4ch/firmware/main.cpp
@@ -223,6 +223,8 @@ bool Pt2001::init() {
 
 Pt2001 chip;
 
+mfs_error_t flashStartState;
+
 /*
  * Application entry point.
  */
@@ -232,7 +234,7 @@ int main() {
 
     // Fire up all of our threads
     InitPins();
-    bool isFlashOk = InitFlash();
+    flashStartState = InitFlash();
     InitCan();
     InitUart();
 
@@ -242,10 +244,10 @@ int main() {
 	palClearPad(LED_GREEN_PORT, LED_GREEN_PIN);
 
     bool isOverallHappyStatus = false;
-    if (isFlashOk) {
-        ReadOrDefault();
-	    isOverallHappyStatus = chip.init();
-	}
+
+    ReadOrDefault();
+    // reminder that +12v is required for PT2001 to start
+	isOverallHappyStatus = chip.init();
 
     while (true) {
         if (isOverallHappyStatus) {
diff --git a/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.cpp b/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.cpp
index 72a85f2..8c49487 100644
--- a/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.cpp
+++ b/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 #include "hal.h"
 
 #include "persistence.h"
-#include "hal_mfs.h"
 
 #define MFS_RECORD_ID     1
 
@@ -19,10 +18,13 @@ const MFSConfig mfscfg1 = {
 static MFSDriver mfs1;
 uint8_t mfs_buffer[512];
 
-bool InitFlash() {
+/**
+ * @return true if mfsStart is well
+ */
+mfs_error_t InitFlash() {
   mfsObjectInit(&mfs1);
   mfs_error_t err = mfsStart(&mfs1, &mfscfg1);
-  return err == MFS_NO_ERROR;
+  return err;
 }
 
 extern GDIConfiguration configuration;
diff --git a/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.h b/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.h
index 9cc1ea5..2b52cab 100644
--- a/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.h
+++ b/GDI-4ch/firmware/persistence.h
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
  * @file persistence.h
  */
 
-
+#include "hal_mfs.h"
 
 #pragma once
 
 /**
  * @return true if OK, false if broken
  */
-bool InitFlash();
+mfs_error_t InitFlash();
 void saveConfiguration();
 void ReadOrDefault();