diff --git a/src/components/chart/ChartPlaceOrder.vue b/src/components/chart/ChartPlaceOrder.vue
index c3dfa4c..77daded 100644
--- a/src/components/chart/ChartPlaceOrder.vue
+++ b/src/components/chart/ChartPlaceOrder.vue
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ const theme = useTheme().current
 const orderColor = computed(()=>co.orders.length===0?null : co.orders[0].buy ? theme.value.colors.success:theme.value.colors.error)
 
 const valid = computed(()=>{
+  if (!s.allowed)
+    return false
   if (co.drawing)
     return false
   for ( const order of co.orders )
diff --git a/src/store/store.js b/src/store/store.js
index 984a344..e19f91b 100644
--- a/src/store/store.js
+++ b/src/store/store.js
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export const useStore = defineStore('app', ()=> {
   const nav = ref(false) // controls opening navigation drawer
   const theme = ref('light')  // todo 'dark'
 
-  const connected = ref(false)
+  const connected = ref(true)  // we assume a connection will succeed until socket.io complains otherwise
   const allowed = ref(!REQUIRE_AUTH)
 
   const _chainId = ref(Number(Object.keys(versionMeta.chainInfo)[0]))