diff --git a/coordinator/startup.lua b/coordinator/startup.lua
index 2ed9fdb..8b42414 100644
--- a/coordinator/startup.lua
+++ b/coordinator/startup.lua
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ local function main()
         ---@class crd_state
         crd_state = {
             fp_ok = false,
-            ui_ok = false,
+            ui_ok = true,       -- default true, used to abort on fail
             link_fail = false,
             shutdown = false
         },
diff --git a/coordinator/threads.lua b/coordinator/threads.lua
index 7a433f5..8fac12b 100644
--- a/coordinator/threads.lua
+++ b/coordinator/threads.lua
@@ -190,16 +190,21 @@ function threads.thread__main(smem)
                 sounder.continue()
             end
 
-            -- check for termination request
+            -- check for termination request or UI crash
             if event == "terminate" or ppm.should_terminate() then
                 crd_state.shutdown = true
                 log.info("terminate requested, main thread exiting")
+            elseif not crd_state.ui_ok then
+                crd_state.shutdown = true
+                log.info("terminating due to fatal UI error")
+            end
 
+            if crd_state.shutdown then
                 -- handle closing supervisor connection
                 coord_comms.try_connect(true)
 
                 if coord_comms.is_linked() then
-                    log_comms("terminate requested, closing supervisor connection...")
+                    log_comms("closing supervisor connection...")
                 else crd_state.link_fail = true end
 
                 coord_comms.close()