diff --git a/fluidterm/fluidterm.py b/fluidterm/fluidterm.py
index e0613db7c..a6b7ac65f 100644
--- a/fluidterm/fluidterm.py
+++ b/fluidterm/fluidterm.py
@@ -627,6 +627,10 @@ def dump_port_settings(self):
 
     def reader(self):
         """loop and copy serial->console"""
+        for _ in range(5):
+            time.sleep(.1)
+            self.console.write('.')
+        self.console.write('\n')
         try:
             while self.alive and self._reader_alive:
                 # read all that is there or wait for one byte
@@ -677,7 +681,7 @@ def writer(self):
         # If you restart FluidNC with $bye or the reset switch, you
         # will have to trigger interactive mode manually
         time.sleep(2) # Time for FluidNC to be ready for input
-        self.enable_fluid_echo();
+        self.enable_fluid_echo()
 
         try:
             while self.alive: