diff --git a/config.multi.example.json b/config.multi.example.json
index 67a9de2..e1903bf 100644
--- a/config.multi.example.json
+++ b/config.multi.example.json
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
     "pin": 23,
     "num_leds_per_gauge": 3,
     "num_status_leds_per_gauge": 2
+    "ws2812_order": "GRB"
   },
   
   "device": {
diff --git a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
index fd6a736..c63e7b6 100644
--- a/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
+++ b/gaugemqttcontinuous.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 """
-gaugemqtt.py — MQTT-based gauge controller for ESP32 / MicroPython
+gaugemqttcontinuous.py — MQTT-based gauge controller for ESP32 / MicroPython
 
 Deploy these files to the ESP32:
-  gauge.py        — stepper driver
-  gaugemqtt.py    — this file
-  umqtt/simple.py — MicroPython built-in
-  umqtt/robust.py — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micropython/micropython-lib/master/micropython/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py
-  config.json     — configuration (see below)
+  gauge_vid6008.py        — stepper driver
+  gaugemqttcontinuous.py  — this file
+  umqtt/simple.py         — MicroPython built-in
+  umqtt/robust.py         — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/micropython/micropython-lib/master/micropython/umqtt.robust/umqtt/robust.py
+  config.json             — configuration (see below)
 
 MQTT topics (all prefixed with mqtt_prefix from config.json):
   .../set                ← HA publishes target value here
@@ -322,6 +322,19 @@ def _mark_bl_dirty():
     _bl_dirty_since = utime.ticks_ms()
 
 
+def _apply_backlight(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness):
+    """Write RGB+brightness to the physical LEDs and mark dirty."""
+    scale = brightness / 100
+    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
+    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge
+    pixel = _to_pixel(int(r * scale), int(g * scale), int(b * scale))
+    for j in range(BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE):
+        leds_bl[base_idx + j] = pixel
+    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
+    leds_bl.write()
+    _mark_bl_dirty()
+
+
 def set_backlight_color(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness=None):
     global backlight_color, backlight_brightness, backlight_on
     if brightness is None:
@@ -333,15 +346,7 @@ def set_backlight_color(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness=None):
     if brightness > 0:
         backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] = brightness
     backlight_on[gauge_idx] = new_on
-
-    scale = brightness / 100
-    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
-    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge
-    for j in range(BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE):
-        leds_bl[base_idx + j] = _to_pixel(int(r * scale), int(g * scale), int(b * scale))
-    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
-    leds_bl.write()
-    _mark_bl_dirty()
+    _apply_backlight(gauge_idx, r, g, b, brightness)
 
 
 def set_backlight_brightness(gauge_idx, brightness):
@@ -354,14 +359,7 @@ def set_backlight_brightness(gauge_idx, brightness):
         backlight_brightness[gauge_idx] = clamped
     backlight_on[gauge_idx] = new_on
     r, g, b = backlight_color[gauge_idx]
-    scale = clamped / 100
-    leds_per_gauge = BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE + STATUS_LEDS_PER_GAUGE
-    base_idx = gauge_idx * leds_per_gauge
-    for j in range(BACKLIGHT_LEDS_PER_GAUGE):
-        leds_bl[base_idx + j] = _to_pixel(int(r * scale), int(g * scale), int(b * scale))
-    _update_status_leds(gauge_idx)
-    leds_bl.write()
-    _mark_bl_dirty()
+    _apply_backlight(gauge_idx, r, g, b, clamped)
 
 
 def _update_status_leds(gauge_idx):
diff --git a/ota.py b/ota.py
index cb12bf1..53c6706 100644
--- a/ota.py
+++ b/ota.py
@@ -198,18 +198,19 @@ def _fetch_manifest():
     )
     try:
         r = urequests.get(url, headers=_headers())
-        if r.status_code == 200:
-            data = r.json()
-            r.close()
-            if data.get("content"):
-                import ubinascii
+        try:
+            if r.status_code == 200:
+                data = r.json()
+                if data.get("content"):
+                    import ubinascii
 
-                content = ubinascii.a2b_base64(data["content"]).decode()
-                patterns = [line.strip() for line in content.splitlines()]
-                return [p for p in patterns if p and not p.startswith("#")]
-        else:
-            warn(f"Manifest not found at {OTA_MANIFEST}")
-        r.close()
+                    content = ubinascii.a2b_base64(data["content"]).decode()
+                    patterns = [line.strip() for line in content.splitlines()]
+                    return [p for p in patterns if p and not p.startswith("#")]
+            else:
+                warn(f"Manifest not found at {OTA_MANIFEST}")
+        finally:
+            r.close()
     except Exception as e:
         log_err(f"Failed to fetch manifest: {e}")
     return None