diff --git a/main/control.cpp b/main/control.cpp
index cbec0c7..cc38a8f 100644
--- a/main/control.cpp
+++ b/main/control.cpp
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ void task_control(void *pvParameter)
         //                123456789
         //limit length to 8 digits + decimal point (drop decimal places when it does not fit)
         sprintf(buf_disp1, "%.9s", buf_tmp);
-        display1_showString(buf_tmp);
+        display1_showString(buf_disp1);
 
         //--- show target length on display2 ---
         //sprintf(buf_disp2, "%06.1f cm", (float)lengthTarget/10); //cm
diff --git a/main/display.cpp b/main/display.cpp
index 847cbfa..7a583c2 100644
--- a/main/display.cpp
+++ b/main/display.cpp
@@ -9,8 +9,11 @@ max7219_t display;
 //===== init display =====
 //========================
 void display_init(){
+    
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "initializing display...");
     // Configure SPI bus
     spi_bus_config_t cfg;
+    memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(spi_bus_config_t)); //init bus config with 0 to prevent bugs with random flags
     cfg.mosi_io_num = DISPLAY_PIN_NUM_MOSI;
     cfg.miso_io_num = -1;
     cfg.sclk_io_num = DISPLAY_PIN_NUM_CLK;
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ void display_init(){
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(max7219_set_brightness(&dev, 12));
     //return dev;
     display = dev;
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "initializing display - done");
 }
 
 
@@ -49,7 +53,7 @@ void display_ShowWelcomeMsg(){
     //scroll "hello" over 2 displays
     for (int offset = 0; offset < 23; offset++) {
         max7219_clear(&display);
-        char hello[23] = "                HELL0 ";
+        char hello[40] = "                HELL0                 ";
         max7219_draw_text_7seg(&display, 0, hello + (22 - offset) );
         vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(50));
     }
diff --git a/main/display.hpp b/main/display.hpp
index 87a7e5b..1c9e250 100644
--- a/main/display.hpp
+++ b/main/display.hpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ extern "C"
 #include <max7219.h>
 #include "rotary_encoder.h"
 }
+#include <cstring>
+
 
 #include "config.hpp"