diff --git a/reactor-plc/configure.lua b/reactor-plc/configure.lua
index 928b082..c4c9c27 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/configure.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/configure.lua
@@ -463,8 +463,8 @@ local function config_view(display)
         for k, v in pairs(tmp_cfg) do settings.set(k, v) end
 
         if settings.save("reactor-plc.settings") then
-            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+            load_settings(ini_cfg)
 
             try_set(networked, ini_cfg.Networked)
             try_set(u_id, ini_cfg.UnitID)
@@ -648,8 +648,9 @@ end
 ---@param ask_config? boolean indicate if this is being called by the PLC startup app due to an invalid configuration
 function configurator.configure(ask_config)
     tool_ctl.ask_config = ask_config == true
-    tool_ctl.has_config = load_settings(ini_cfg)
+
     load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+    tool_ctl.has_config = load_settings(ini_cfg)
 
     reset_term()
 
diff --git a/reactor-plc/startup.lua b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
index e8705a2..2a051e9 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/startup.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/startup.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ local plc       = require("reactor-plc.plc")
 local renderer  = require("reactor-plc.renderer")
 local threads   = require("reactor-plc.threads")
 
-local R_PLC_VERSION = "v1.6.4"
+local R_PLC_VERSION = "v1.6.5"
 
 local println = util.println
 local println_ts = util.println_ts
diff --git a/rtu/configure.lua b/rtu/configure.lua
index 4a55b0a..296c91c 100644
--- a/rtu/configure.lua
+++ b/rtu/configure.lua
@@ -531,9 +531,13 @@ local function config_view(display)
             if not (exclude_conns and (k == "Peripherals" or k == "Redstone")) then settings.set(k, v) end
         end
 
+        -- always set these if missing
+        if settings.get("Peripherals") == nil then settings.set("Peripherals", {}) end
+        if settings.get("Redstone") == nil then settings.set("Redstone", {}) end
+
         if settings.save("rtu.settings") then
-            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+            load_settings(ini_cfg)
 
             try_set(s_vol, ini_cfg.SpeakerVolume)
             try_set(svr_chan, ini_cfg.SVR_Channel)
@@ -582,8 +586,8 @@ local function config_view(display)
     PushButton{parent=sum_c_3,x=43,y=14,min_width=7,text="Apply",callback=save_and_continue,fg_bg=cpair(colors.black,colors.green),active_fg_bg=btn_act_fg_bg}
 
     TextBox{parent=sum_c_4,x=1,y=1,height=1,text="Settings saved!"}
-    PushButton{parent=sum_c_4,x=1,y=14,min_width=6,text="Home",callback=function()tool_ctl.go_home()end,fg_bg=nav_fg_bg,active_fg_bg=btn_act_fg_bg}
-    PushButton{parent=sum_c_4,x=44,y=14,min_width=6,text="Exit",callback=exit,fg_bg=cpair(colors.black,colors.red),active_fg_bg=cpair(colors.white,colors.gray)}
+    PushButton{parent=sum_c_4,x=1,y=14,min_width=6,text="Exit",callback=exit,fg_bg=cpair(colors.black,colors.red),active_fg_bg=cpair(colors.white,colors.gray)}
+    PushButton{parent=sum_c_4,x=44,y=14,min_width=6,text="Home",callback=function()tool_ctl.go_home()end,fg_bg=nav_fg_bg,active_fg_bg=btn_act_fg_bg}
 
     TextBox{parent=sum_c_5,x=1,y=1,height=2,text="The old config.lua file will now be deleted, then the configurator will exit."}
 
@@ -652,8 +656,8 @@ local function config_view(display)
         settings.set("Peripherals", tmp_cfg.Peripherals)
 
         if settings.save("rtu.settings") then
-            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             peri_pane.set_value(5)
         else
             peri_pane.set_value(6)
@@ -958,8 +962,8 @@ local function config_view(display)
         settings.set("Redstone", tmp_cfg.Redstone)
 
         if settings.save("rtu.settings") then
-            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+            load_settings(ini_cfg)
             rs_pane.set_value(4)
         else
             rs_pane.set_value(5)
@@ -1445,9 +1449,9 @@ end
 ---@param ask_config? boolean indicate if this is being called by the RTU startup app due to an invalid configuration
 function configurator.configure(ask_config)
     tool_ctl.ask_config = ask_config == true
-    tool_ctl.has_config = load_settings(ini_cfg)
-    load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
 
+    load_settings(settings_cfg, true)
+    tool_ctl.has_config = load_settings(ini_cfg)
     tmp_cfg.Peripherals = deep_copy_peri(ini_cfg.Peripherals)
     tmp_cfg.Redstone = deep_copy_rs(ini_cfg.Redstone)
 
diff --git a/rtu/rtu.lua b/rtu/rtu.lua
index e019e23..20bdbe1 100644
--- a/rtu/rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/rtu.lua
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ function rtu.load_config()
     cfv.assert_type_str(config.LogPath)
     cfv.assert_type_bool(config.LogDebug)
 
+    cfv.assert_type_table(config.Peripherals)
+    cfv.assert_type_table(config.Redstone)
+
     return cfv.valid()
 end
 
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index e31e678..759363a 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ local sna_rtu      = require("rtu.dev.sna_rtu")
 local sps_rtu      = require("rtu.dev.sps_rtu")
 local turbinev_rtu = require("rtu.dev.turbinev_rtu")
 
-local RTU_VERSION = "v1.7.2"
+local RTU_VERSION = "v1.7.3"
 
 local RTU_UNIT_TYPE = types.RTU_UNIT_TYPE
 local RTU_UNIT_HW_STATE = databus.RTU_UNIT_HW_STATE