diff --git a/host/esp32-espnow-recv/platformio.ini b/host/esp32-espnow-recv/platformio.ini
index 73a15dd46f3a4a79306f6bb21fa95aa1eda91597..808a5bb1fc8bdb99fa2782ed3898a0cf5dcc7ae5 100644
--- a/host/esp32-espnow-recv/platformio.ini
+++ b/host/esp32-espnow-recv/platformio.ini
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ platform = espressif32
 board = esp32-c3-devkitm-1
 monitor_speed = 115200
 framework = arduino
-monitor_port = /dev/ttyUSB1
-upload_port = /dev/ttyUSB1
+; monitor_port = /dev/ttyUSB1
+; upload_port = /dev/ttyUSB1
 build_flags =
     -I include
     -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
diff --git a/host/esp32-espnow-recv/src/main.cpp b/host/esp32-espnow-recv/src/main.cpp
index 61baf52196edcda4da788f4d74dfa635c081670e..0a400535d6450f1a28e117c0cd777c57470105c6 100644
--- a/host/esp32-espnow-recv/src/main.cpp
+++ b/host/esp32-espnow-recv/src/main.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 long time1 = 0;
 
+uint8_t hostMac[] = {0xFF,0xFF,0xFF,0xFF,0xFF,0xFF};
+
 //SoftwareSerial mySerial(RXD2, TXD2);
 
 enum MessageType{
@@ -95,6 +97,14 @@ void setup()
 	}
 	Serial.println("ESPNow init success");
 
+	// tell all clients that this is now the host
+	// can probably be removed after testing
+	response hello;
+	hello.type = hostChange;
+	esp_read_mac(hello.mac, ESP_MAC_WIFI_STA);
+	hello.time = 0;
+	esp_now_send(hostMac, (uint8_t*) &hello, sizeof(hello));
+
 	esp_now_register_recv_cb(on_data_recv);
 	//  write your initialization code here
 }