Index: firmware/App/Tasks/TaskBG.c
===================================================================
diff -u -r40bcef6aa65af6c93ce937c6c4aa2de13e8a78d3 -r070554b23739bf16ea2bf9528ebabda1ce0ffeb3
--- firmware/App/Tasks/TaskBG.c	(.../TaskBG.c)	(revision 40bcef6aa65af6c93ce937c6c4aa2de13e8a78d3)
+++ firmware/App/Tasks/TaskBG.c	(.../TaskBG.c)	(revision 070554b23739bf16ea2bf9528ebabda1ce0ffeb3)
@@ -15,9 +15,19 @@
  **************************************************************************/
 
 #include "Common.h"
+#include "SystemComm.h"
 #include "WatchdogMgmt.h"
 #include "TaskTimer.h"
 
+// ********** private definitions **********
+
+#define MAX_TIME_FOR_UI_TO_COMMUNICATE_MS       30000       // 30 seconds
+
+// ********** private data **********
+
+static U32  startUICommTimeout;
+static BOOL uiIsCommunicating = FALSE;
+
 /*************************************************************************
  * @brief taskBackground
  * The taskBackground function handles the idle Background Task loop.
@@ -28,10 +38,28 @@
  *************************************************************************/
 void taskBackground( void )
 {
+    startUICommTimeout = getMSTimerCount();
 #ifndef _VECTORCAST_        // can't have infinite loop in unit test tool
     while ( 1 )
 #endif
     {
+        // wait for UI to come up after power up
+        if ( FALSE == uiIsCommunicating )
+        {
+            if ( TRUE == uiCommunicated() )
+            {
+                uiIsCommunicating = TRUE;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                if ( TRUE == didTimeout( startUICommTimeout, MAX_TIME_FOR_UI_TO_COMMUNICATE_MS ) )
+                {
+                    activateAlarmNoData( ALARM_ID_UI_COMM_POST_FAILED );
+                    checkInFromUI();  // pretend we got something from UI to unlock task processing of HD
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // manage the watchdog
         execWatchdogMgmt();
     }