Index: firmware/App/Tasks/TaskPriority.c
===================================================================
diff -u -rcb5c7321fae3036d7a3641ae49097b4b361270f5 -r070554b23739bf16ea2bf9528ebabda1ce0ffeb3
--- firmware/App/Tasks/TaskPriority.c	(.../TaskPriority.c)	(revision cb5c7321fae3036d7a3641ae49097b4b361270f5)
+++ firmware/App/Tasks/TaskPriority.c	(.../TaskPriority.c)	(revision 070554b23739bf16ea2bf9528ebabda1ce0ffeb3)
@@ -20,9 +20,12 @@
 #include "BloodFlow.h"
 #include "Buttons.h"
 #include "FPGA.h"
+#include "SystemComm.h"
 #include "WatchdogMgmt.h"
 #include "TaskPriority.h"
 
+static BOOL uiHasCheckedIn = FALSE;
+
 /*************************************************************************
  * @brief taskPriority
  * The taskPriority function handles the scheduled Priority Task interrupt.
@@ -33,24 +36,29 @@
  *************************************************************************/
 void taskPriority( void )
 {
-    // 1st pass for FPGA
-    execFPGAIn();
+    // prevent most processing until UI has started communicating
+    if ( TRUE == uiHasCheckedIn )
+    {
+        // 1st pass for FPGA
+        execFPGAIn();
 
-    // monitor and process buttons
-    execButtons();
+        // monitor and process buttons
+        execButtons();
 
-    // monitor internal ADC channels
-    execInternalADC();
+        // monitor internal ADC channels
+        execInternalADC();
 
-    // monitor blood pump and flow
-    execBloodFlowMonitor();
+        // monitor blood pump and flow
+        execBloodFlowMonitor();
 
-    // control blood pump
-    execBloodFlowController();
+        // 2nd pass for FPGA
+        execFPGAOut();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        uiHasCheckedIn = uiCommunicated();
+    }
 
-    // 2nd pass for FPGA
-    execFPGAOut();
-
     // check in with watchdog manager
     checkInWithWatchdogMgmt( TASK_PRIORITY );