diff --git a/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.cpp b/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.cpp
index a649449871..43062661dd 100644
--- a/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.cpp
+++ b/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.cpp
@@ -165,16 +165,37 @@ Menu::MenuAction EditorConnection::run()
     SerialComs::write(EDITOR_VERB_CLEAR_DEMO_ACK);
     m_state = STATE_IDLE;
     break;
-  case STATE_SEND_MODE_VL:
-    if (!VLSender::isSending() || !VLSender::send()) {
-      m_state = STATE_IDLE;
+  case STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL:
+#if ENABLE_VL_SENDER == 1
+    // if still sending and the send command indicated more data
+    if (VLSender::isSending() && VLSender::send()) {
+      // then continue sending
+      break;
     }
-    // continue sending
+#endif
+    // othewrise, done, switch to the transmit done state
+    m_state = STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL_DONE;
+    break;
+  case STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL_DONE:
+    // done transmitting
+    m_receiveBuffer.clear();
+    SerialComs::write(EDITOR_VERB_TRANSMIT_VL_ACK);
+    m_state = STATE_IDLE;
     break;
   }
   return MENU_CONTINUE;
 }
 
+void EditorConnection::sendCurModeVL()
+{
+#if ENABLE_VL_SENDER == 1
+  // immediately load the mode and send it now
+  VLSender::loadMode(&m_previewMode);
+  VLSender::send();
+#endif
+  m_state = STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL;
+}
+
 // handlers for clicks
 void EditorConnection::onShortClick()
 {
@@ -186,9 +207,7 @@ void EditorConnection::onShortClick()
 
 void EditorConnection::onShortClick2()
 {
-  VLSender::loadMode(&m_previewMode);
-  VLSender::send();
-  m_state = STATE_SEND_MODE_VL;
+  sendCurModeVL();
 }
 
 void EditorConnection::onLongClick()
@@ -310,5 +329,7 @@ void EditorConnection::handleCommand()
     m_state = STATE_DEMO_MODE;
   } else if (receiveMessage(EDITOR_VERB_CLEAR_DEMO)) {
     m_state = STATE_CLEAR_DEMO;
+  } else if (receiveMessage(EDITOR_VERB_TRANSMIT_VL)) {
+    sendCurModeVL();
   }
 }
diff --git a/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.h b/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.h
index 771c728b9a..5c6e7b652c 100644
--- a/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.h
+++ b/VortexEngine/src/Menus/MenuList/EditorConnection.h
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ class EditorConnection : public Menu
   bool init() override;
   MenuAction run() override;
 
+  // broadcast the current preview mode over VL
+  void sendCurModeVL();
+
   // handlers for clicks
   void onShortClick() override;
   void onShortClick2() override;
@@ -62,8 +65,9 @@ class EditorConnection : public Menu
     // engine tells gloves to clear the demo preview, gloves acknowledge
     STATE_CLEAR_DEMO,
 
-    // send the mode over visible light
-    STATE_SEND_MODE_VL,
+    // transmit the mode over visible light
+    STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL,
+    STATE_TRANSMIT_MODE_VL_DONE,
   };
 
   // state of the editor
diff --git a/VortexEngine/src/VortexConfig.h b/VortexEngine/src/VortexConfig.h
index 7358e811eb..60429c36be 100644
--- a/VortexEngine/src/VortexConfig.h
+++ b/VortexEngine/src/VortexConfig.h
@@ -495,6 +495,12 @@
 // that it's no longer listening
 #define EDITOR_VERB_GOODBYE           "l"
 
+// when the computer wants to send a mode to the duo it tells the device
+// to transmit over VL and send the current preview mode to the duo
+#define EDITOR_VERB_TRANSMIT_VL       "m"
+// the response from the device when it's done transmitting the mode
+#define EDITOR_VERB_TRANSMIT_VL_ACK   "n"
+
 // ===================================================================
 //  Manually Configured Sizes
 //