diff --git a/source/link_handler.cpp b/source/link_handler.cpp
index ec5b0b3..34bda48 100644
--- a/source/link_handler.cpp
+++ b/source/link_handler.cpp
@@ -1258,6 +1258,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_InitalizeConnection(bool waitForCompletion)
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
 
   PTGB_MGBA_INFO("Running command: InitalizeConnection");
 
@@ -1277,6 +1281,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_ReloadCurrentBox(bool waitForCompletion)
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
   
   PTGB_MGBA_INFO("Running command: ReloadCurrentBox");
 
@@ -1298,6 +1306,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_TransferPokemon(int boxNumber, byte removalArra
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
 
   int maxBoxes = 0;
   if (gen == 1)
@@ -1351,6 +1363,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_SoftReset(bool waitForCompletion)
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
 
   PTGB_MGBA_INFO("Running command: SoftReset");
 
@@ -1372,6 +1388,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_ModifySRAMAccess(bool enableSRAM, byte SRAMbank
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
   
   if (SRAMbank > 3)
   {
@@ -1405,6 +1425,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_RunSecondaryPayload(byte payload[], int payload
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
 
   PTGB_MGBA_INFO("Running command: RunSecondaryPayload");
 
@@ -1427,6 +1451,10 @@ bool LinkConnection::LinkCommand_ReadMemorySection(u32 dataPointer, byte outArra
   {
     return true;
   }
+  else if (!linkSPI->isActive())
+  {
+    return false;
+  }
 
   if (dataPointer > 0xFFFF)
   {
diff --git a/source/main.cpp b/source/main.cpp
index 1d735c3..0bbfd0f 100644
--- a/source/main.cpp
+++ b/source/main.cpp
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ int main(void)
 	if (!get_tutorial_flag() || g_debug_options.force_tutorial)
 	{
 		obj_hide_multi(ptgb_logo_l, 2);
+		load_flex_background(FBG_Fennel, 2);
 		text_loop(BTN_TRANSFER);
 		initialize_save_data();
 		// TODO: We should be able to test for a Bootleg rom in here- if the save data isn't written, then it is bootleg.