diff --git a/include/lv_conf_m9.h b/include/lv_conf_m9.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db9237a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/lv_conf_m9.h
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#pragma once
+
+// M9-specific LVGL config wrapper.
+//
+// Why this exists:
+// - LVGL 8.4's lv_hal_indev.h unconditionally defines LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_*.
+// - Our shared lv_conf defines LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_LIMIT for touch tuning, and
+//   M9's build flags define LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_THROW. That combination emits
+//   macro-redefinition warnings, even though M9 has no touch input path.
+//
+// For M9, include the shared project LV config, then drop touch-scroll tuning
+// macros so LVGL's keypad-only defaults can apply without warnings.
+#ifndef LV_CONF_H
+#define LV_CONF_H
+#endif
+
+#include "lv_conf.h"
+
+#ifdef LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_LIMIT
+#undef LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_LIMIT
+#endif
+
+#ifdef LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_THROW
+#undef LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_THROW
+#endif
diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index 0d67afa..46e4bbe 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -1143,13 +1143,17 @@ board_build.partitions = variants/thinknode_m9/partitions_m9_touch.csv
 ; DriveDiosInSleepMode (0x012A, FW 0x0308+) with CMD_PERR -> begin() = -706.
 ; The pre-script makes RadioLib's config() skip it on old FW (idempotent,
 ; per-env libdeps copy). See scripts/build/patch_radiolib_lr11x0.py.
-extra_scripts = pre:scripts/build/pre_gen_baked.py, pre:scripts/inject_wifi_env.py, pre:scripts/build/patch_radiolib_lr11x0.py, merge-bin.py
+extra_scripts = pre:scripts/build/pre_gen_baked.py, pre:scripts/inject_wifi_env.py, pre:scripts/build/patch_radiolib_lr11x0.py, pre:scripts/build/patch_meshcore_rv3028_define.py, merge-bin.py
+
+build_unflags =
+  -std=gnu++11
+  -std=gnu++14
 
 build_flags =
   ; 1.17 core: ESP32Board.cpp includes <target.h> -> MicroNMEALocationProvider.h (header-only
   ; provider), so MicroNMEA never chains into the core lib's LDF scope -- hand it the path.
   -I"${platformio.libdeps_dir}/${this.__env__}/MicroNMEA/src"
-  -Wno-deprecated-declarations -Wno-unused-parameter -DNDEBUG -DRADIOLIB_STATIC_ONLY=1 -DRADIOLIB_GODMODE=1
+  -Wno-deprecated-declarations -Wno-unused-parameter -Wno-cpp -Wno-overflow -Wno-return-type -std=gnu++17 -DNDEBUG -DRADIOLIB_STATIC_ONLY=1 -DRADIOLIB_GODMODE=1
   -D MC_VENDORED_TOUCH_APP
   -D LORA_FREQ=869.618
   -D LORA_BW=62.5
@@ -1331,9 +1335,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D HAS_TOUCH_UI=1
   -D FIRMWARE_OTA_ENV='"ThinkNode_M9_companion_radio_touch"'
   -D ENABLE_ADVERT_ON_BOOT=0
-  -D LV_CONF_PATH=lv_conf.h
+  -D LV_CONF_PATH=lv_conf_m9.h
   -D LV_CONF_INCLUDE_SIMPLE=1
-  -D LV_INDEV_DEF_SCROLL_THROW=7
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=2000
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=ST7789LCDDisplay
diff --git a/scripts/build/patch_meshcore_rv3028_define.py b/scripts/build/patch_meshcore_rv3028_define.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab88690
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build/patch_meshcore_rv3028_define.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+Import("env")
+import os
+
+MARKER = "wadamesh-rv3028-guard-patch"
+OLD = "#define RV3028_ADDRESS   0x52"
+NEW = """#ifndef RV3028_ADDRESS
+#define RV3028_ADDRESS   0x52
+#endif  // wadamesh-rv3028-guard-patch"""
+
+path = os.path.join(
+    env.subst("$PROJECT_LIBDEPS_DIR"),
+    env.subst("$PIOENV"),
+    "MeshCore",
+    "src",
+    "helpers",
+    "AutoDiscoverRTCClock.cpp",
+)
+
+if not os.path.isfile(path):
+    print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] WARNING: %s not found (libdeps not fetched yet?)" % path)
+    print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] WARNING: MeshCore NOT patched - re-run build once libdeps exist")
+else:
+    with open(path) as f:
+        src = f.read()
+
+    if MARKER in src:
+        print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] already patched")
+    elif OLD in src:
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(src.replace(OLD, NEW, 1))
+        print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] patched RV3028_ADDRESS guard in AutoDiscoverRTCClock.cpp")
+    else:
+        print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] WARNING: pattern not found - MeshCore version drift?")
+        print("[patch_meshcore_rv3028_define] WARNING: check AutoDiscoverRTCClock.cpp by hand, NOT patched")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.cpp b/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.cpp
index f83b429..4ba731b 100644
--- a/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.cpp
+++ b/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.cpp
@@ -25,9 +25,12 @@ SnakeGame* SnakeGame::s_active = nullptr;
 bool SnakeGame::isOpen() { return s_active != nullptr && s_active->root_ != nullptr; }
 
 void SnakeGame::steer(int dx, int dy) {
-  if (!s_active || !s_active->started_ || s_active->over_) return;
+  if (!s_active || s_active->over_) return;
   // Trackball deltas -> one cardinal direction (dominant axis).
   if (dx == 0 && dy == 0) return;
+  // Keyboard-only boards (M9) have no touch "New game" tap target; first
+  // directional input should start immediately.
+  if (!s_active->started_) s_active->startGame();
   const int adx = dx < 0 ? -dx : dx, ady = dy < 0 ? -dy : dy;
   if (adx >= ady) s_active->setDir(dx > 0 ? 1 : -1, 0);
   else            s_active->setDir(0, dy > 0 ? 1 : -1);
@@ -105,7 +108,7 @@ void SnakeGame::updateScoreLabel() {
   if (over_)         lv_label_set_text_fmt(score_, TR("Game over  \xe2\x80\x94  score %d   (tap to restart)"), score_val_);
   else if (paused_)  lv_label_set_text_fmt(score_, TR("Paused  \xe2\x80\x94  score %d"), score_val_);
   else if (started_) lv_label_set_text_fmt(score_, TR("score %d"), score_val_);
-  else               lv_label_set_text(score_, TR("Snake  \xe2\x80\x94  swipe or roll the trackball"));
+  else               lv_label_set_text(score_, TR("Snake  \xe2\x80\x94  swipe, roll, or press a direction"));
 }
 
 void SnakeGame::step() {
diff --git a/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.h b/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.h
index 426ffe7..7bc63ed 100644
--- a/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.h
+++ b/src/ui-touch/SnakeGame.h
@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@
 // Self-contained Snake mini-game launched from the Apps drawer.
 //
 // Owns a full-screen overlay on lv_layer_top: a canvas playfield filling the
-// unoccupied screen, a score line, and a close button. The game waits on a
-// "New game" button (doesn't start moving on open). Steer by swipe OR trackball
-// (UITask routes the trackball here via isOpen()/steer() and hides the cursor);
+// unoccupied screen, a score line, and a close button. The game can start from
+// the "New game" button OR from the first directional steer input. Steer by
+// swipe/gesture, trackball, or hardware directional keys (UITask routes board
+// input here via isOpen()/steer());
 // tap to restart after a game over; the X closes it. One instance at a time.
 //
 // Decoupled from UITask internals — depends only on LVGL and lvglPsramAlloc.
diff --git a/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp b/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
index d366ee1..c3e66af 100644
--- a/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
+++ b/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
@@ -38153,6 +38153,7 @@ static bool m9HandleNavKey(int key) {
       s_nav_show = true; if (g_lv.task) g_lv.task->noteUserInput(); return true;
     case M9_KEY_HOME:
       if (s_setup_root) return true;
+      s_nav_ta_editing = false;   // Home is global, including while a textarea is being edited
       if (s_apppage_close) {
         // A full-screen app page (Lua app, Snake, Web…) isn't a popup-registry
         // row — close it and stop: one action per press, so HOME on the Home
@@ -38458,6 +38459,10 @@ if (g_lv.task && g_lv.task->isManualLock()) {
   lv_obj_t* ta = ta_focused;
 #endif
 #if defined(HAS_M9_KEYBOARD)
+  // Unlike directional keys and Back, the dedicated Home key is global. Route
+  // it before the textarea split so edit mode cannot swallow it as an unknown
+  // non-printable byte.
+  if (key == M9_KEY_HOME && m9HandleNavKey(key)) return;
   if (m9HandleArrowKey(key, ta)) return;    // ← runs BEFORE the if(!ta) split
 #endif
   if (!ta) {