diff --git a/services/codec/src/main.rs b/services/codec/src/main.rs
index dfbf6dd2e..1eefd3504 100644
--- a/services/codec/src/main.rs
+++ b/services/codec/src/main.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ fn xmain() -> ! {
                 }
             }),
             Some(api::Opcode::PauseStream) => xous::msg_scalar_unpack!(msg, _, _, _, _, {
-                if codec.is_on() && codec.is_init() {
+                if codec.is_on() && codec.is_init() && codec.is_live() {
                     codec.drain(); // this will suppress any future callbacks from firing
                     while codec.can_play() {
                         xous::yield_slice();
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ fn xmain() -> ! {
                 }
             }),
             Some(api::Opcode::AbortStream) => xous::msg_scalar_unpack!(msg, _, _, _, _, {
-                if codec.is_on() && codec.is_init() {
+                if codec.is_on() && codec.is_init() && codec.is_live() {
                     codec.audio_i2s_stop();
                 } else {
                     log::error!("attempted to abort a stream on an uninitialized codec, ignoring!")
diff --git a/services/gam/src/menu.rs b/services/gam/src/menu.rs
index ad42125a5..3c1241fa0 100644
--- a/services/gam/src/menu.rs
+++ b/services/gam/src/menu.rs
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ impl<'a> Menu<'a> {
         self.gam.redraw().unwrap();
         #[cfg(feature="tts")]
         {
-            // self.tts.tts_simple(&self.name).unwrap();
+            self.tts.tts_simple(&self.name).unwrap();
         }
     }
     fn num_items(&self) -> usize {
diff --git a/services/status/Cargo.toml b/services/status/Cargo.toml
index 9620dfb01..ccd0509b5 100644
--- a/services/status/Cargo.toml
+++ b/services/status/Cargo.toml
@@ -41,5 +41,6 @@ chrono = "0.4"
 [features]
 debugprint = []
 braille = [] # used for braille mode, so console isn't overwhelmed with status
+tts = []
 # default = ["debugprint"] # "debugprint"
 default = []
diff --git a/services/status/src/mainmenu.rs b/services/status/src/mainmenu.rs
index 68fda548d..2484b7463 100644
--- a/services/status/src/mainmenu.rs
+++ b/services/status/src/mainmenu.rs
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@ use num_traits::*;
 
 use crate::StatusOpcode;
 
+#[allow(unused_variables)] // quiets a warning about unused com that is emitted in tts config. Would be nice to make this more targeted...
 pub fn create_main_menu(keys: Arc<Mutex<RootKeys>>, status_conn: xous::CID, com: &com::Com) {
     let key_conn = keys.lock().unwrap().conn();
 
     let mut menuitems = Vec::<MenuItem>::new();
 
+    #[cfg(not(feature="tts"))] // no backlight on versions with no display
     menuitems.push(MenuItem {
         name: String::from_str(t!("mainmenu.backlighton", xous::LANG)),
         action_conn: Some(com.conn()),
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ pub fn create_main_menu(keys: Arc<Mutex<RootKeys>>, status_conn: xous::CID, com:
         close_on_select: true,
     });
 
+    #[cfg(not(feature="tts"))]
     menuitems.push(MenuItem {
         name: String::from_str(t!("mainmenu.backlightoff", xous::LANG)),
         action_conn: Some(com.conn()),
@@ -95,6 +98,7 @@ pub fn create_main_menu(keys: Arc<Mutex<RootKeys>>, status_conn: xous::CID, com:
         close_on_select: true,
     });
 
+    #[cfg(not(feature="tts"))]
     menuitems.push(MenuItem {
         name: String::from_str(t!("mainmenu.kbd", xous::LANG)),
         action_conn: Some(status_conn),
diff --git a/services/tts/src/main.rs b/services/tts/src/main.rs
index 430b3e8b8..c7c945e3b 100644
--- a/services/tts/src/main.rs
+++ b/services/tts/src/main.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ fn xmain() -> ! {
                 synth_done.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
                 tts_be.tts_simple(msg.text.as_str().unwrap()).unwrap();
                 just_initiated = true;
+                log::debug!("resuming codec");
                 codec.resume().unwrap();
             },
             Some(Opcode::CodecCb) => msg_scalar_unpack!(msg, free_play, _available_rec, _, routing_id, {
@@ -158,8 +159,6 @@ fn xmain() -> ! {
                     if (locked_buf.len() == 0) && synth_done.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
                         codec.pause().unwrap();
                     }
-                } else {
-                    codec.pause().unwrap(); // this should stop callbacks from occurring too.
                 }
             }),
             Some(Opcode::CodecStop) => {