diff --git a/developer/discord.sh b/developer/discord.sh
index fadf1ca3..e6a1a6a7 100644
--- a/developer/discord.sh
+++ b/developer/discord.sh
@@ -16,3 +16,8 @@ fi
 $FILE --discord 2 --configfile sm64config_server.txt  &
 $FILE --discord 1 --configfile sm64config_client.txt  &
 exit
+
+
+#debug discord client
+$FILE --discord 2 --configfile sm64config_server.txt  &
+winpty cgdb ./build/us_pc/sm64.us.f3dex2e.exe -ex 'break debug_breakpoint_here' -ex 'r --discord 1 --configfile sm64config_client.txt'
diff --git a/src/pc/djui/djui_inputbox.c b/src/pc/djui/djui_inputbox.c
index 595d353e..03bbf6bc 100644
--- a/src/pc/djui/djui_inputbox.c
+++ b/src/pc/djui/djui_inputbox.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ static void djui_inputbox_on_text_input(struct DjuiBase *base, char* text) {
     // make sure we're not just printing garbage characters
     bool containsValidAscii = false;
     char* tinput = text;
-    while (*tinput != NULL) {
+    while (*tinput != '\0') {
         if (*tinput >= '!' && *tinput <= '~') {
             containsValidAscii = true;
             break;
diff --git a/src/pc/network/discord/activity.c b/src/pc/network/discord/activity.c
index 3ed46251..b41f625c 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/discord/activity.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/discord/activity.c
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ static void on_activity_join_callback(UNUSED void* data, enum EDiscordResult res
     discord_network_init(lobby->id);
     discord_activity_update(false);
 
+    if (gNetworkType == NT_CLIENT) {
+        ns_discord_save_id(gNetworkPlayerServer->localIndex, lobby->owner_id);
+        network_send_join_request();
+    }
+
     gNetworkUserIds[0] = lobby->owner_id;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pc/network/discord/discord.c b/src/pc/network/discord/discord.c
index 735f7f82..8f6529b9 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/discord/discord.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/discord/discord.c
@@ -131,12 +131,6 @@ static bool ns_discord_initialize(enum NetworkType networkType) {
 #ifdef DEBUG
     set_instance_env_variable();
 #endif
-#ifdef UNSTABLE_BRANCH
-    if (networkType != NT_NONE) {
-        // refuse to host on discord for unstable branch
-        exit(1);
-    }
-#endif
 
     if (!gDiscordInitialized) {
         // set up discord params
diff --git a/src/pc/network/network.c b/src/pc/network/network.c
index d044f167..7c54c830 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/network.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/network.c
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ bool network_init(enum NetworkType inNetworkType) {
         djui_chat_box_create();
     } else if (gNetworkType == NT_CLIENT) {
         network_player_connected(NPT_SERVER, 0);
-        network_send_join_request();
     }
 
     LOG_INFO("initialized");
diff --git a/src/pc/network/packets/packet.c b/src/pc/network/packets/packet.c
index bf883515..076a927d 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/packets/packet.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/packets/packet.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ void packet_receive(struct Packet* p) {
             LOG_INFO("closing connection for packetType: %d", packetType);
             network_send_kick(EKT_CLOSE_CONNECTION);
         }
+        LOG_INFO("refusing packet from unknown player, packetType: %d", packetType);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ void packet_receive(struct Packet* p) {
             // process the packet
             packet_process(p);
         }
+    } else {
+        LOG_INFO("packet initial read failed, packetType: %d", packetType);
     }
 
     // broadcast packet
diff --git a/src/pc/network/packets/packet_join.c b/src/pc/network/packets/packet_join.c
index 966e0afe..e0c366e5 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/packets/packet_join.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/packets/packet_join.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include "pc/djui/djui.h"
 #include "pc/cheats.h"
 #include "pc/utils/string_builder.h"
-#define DISABLE_MODULE_LOG 1
+//#define DISABLE_MODULE_LOG 1
 #include "pc/debuglog.h"
 
 extern u8* gOverrideEeprom;
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ void network_send_join_request(void) {
 
     struct Packet p;
     packet_init(&p, PACKET_JOIN_REQUEST, true, false);
-    network_send_to(gNetworkPlayerServer->localIndex, &p);
+    network_send_to((gNetworkPlayerServer != NULL) ? gNetworkPlayerServer->localIndex : 0, &p);
     LOG_INFO("sending join request");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pc/network/socket/socket.c b/src/pc/network/socket/socket.c
index e43956fe..7303aff5 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/socket/socket.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/socket/socket.c
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ static bool ns_socket_initialize(enum NetworkType networkType) {
 
     LOG_INFO("initialized");
 
+    if (networkType == NT_CLIENT) {
+        network_send_join_request();
+    }
+
     // success
     return true;
 }