diff --git a/res/start.scr b/res/start.scr
index 32c1f2a..bf85d76 100644
Binary files a/res/start.scr and b/res/start.scr differ
diff --git a/src/layout.inc b/src/layout.inc
index 57cd695..b0c2e4c 100644
--- a/src/layout.inc
+++ b/src/layout.inc
@@ -52,3 +52,5 @@ LAYOUT_PLAYER_BUTTONBAR        equ #040e
 LAYOUT_PLAYBUTTON_ATTR         equ #07
 LAYOUT_PLAYBUTTON_ACTIVE_ATTR  equ #46
 LAYOUT_HELP_BORDER             equ #01
+LAYOUT_START_SAFE_MESSAGE      equ #170a
+LAYOUT_START_SAFE_MESSAGE_LEN  equ 12
diff --git a/src/main.asm b/src/main.asm
index 8583eb2..373038a 100644
--- a/src/main.asm
+++ b/src/main.asm
@@ -70,7 +70,16 @@ main:
     out (c), a                      ; ...
     call device_detect_cpu_int      ;
     call trdos_init                 ;
-    call settings_load              ;
+    xor a                                         ; hide "hold space for safe mode" message
+    ld b, LAYOUT_START_SAFE_MESSAGE_LEN           ; ...
+    LD_ATTR_ADDRESS hl, LAYOUT_START_SAFE_MESSAGE ; ...
+1:  ld (hl), a                                    ; ...
+    inc hl                                        ; ...
+    djnz 1b                                       ; ...
+    ld a, #7f                                     ; skip settings load if space pressed
+    in a, (#fe)                                   ; ...
+    bit 0, a                                      ; ...
+    call nz, settings_load                        ; ...
     call uart_init                  ;
     call input_init_kempston        ;
     call disks_init                 ;