diff --git a/src/controller/controls/mod.rs b/src/controller/controls/mod.rs
index dad577d..7561e10 100644
--- a/src/controller/controls/mod.rs
+++ b/src/controller/controls/mod.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-mod dpad;
 mod media;
 mod null;
+mod paddle;
 mod scroll_zoom;
 mod volume;
 
-pub use self::dpad::*;
 pub use self::media::*;
 pub use self::null::*;
+pub use self::paddle::*;
 pub use self::scroll_zoom::*;
 pub use self::volume::*;
diff --git a/src/controller/controls/dpad.rs b/src/controller/controls/paddle.rs
similarity index 70%
rename from src/controller/controls/dpad.rs
rename to src/controller/controls/paddle.rs
index 5a1226e..c01592e 100644
--- a/src/controller/controls/dpad.rs
+++ b/src/controller/controls/paddle.rs
@@ -10,9 +10,15 @@ use crate::DynResult;
 
 use evdev_rs::enums::EV_KEY;
 
+// everything is done in a worker, as we need use `recv_timeout` as a (very)
+// poor man's `select!`.
+
 enum Msg {
     Kill,
+    ButtonDown,
+    ButtonUp,
     Delta(i32),
+    Enabled(bool),
 }
 
 struct Worker {
@@ -24,6 +30,7 @@ struct Worker {
     cap: i32,
     deadzone: i32,
 
+    enabled: bool,
     last_delta: i32,
     velocity: i32,
 }
@@ -40,6 +47,7 @@ impl Worker {
             cap: 250,
             deadzone: 10,
 
+            enabled: false,
             last_delta: 0,
             velocity: 0,
         }
@@ -49,8 +57,26 @@ impl Worker {
         loop {
             let falloff = self.velocity.abs() / self.falloff + 1;
 
-            match self.msg.recv_timeout(Duration::from_millis(self.timeout)) {
+            let msg = if self.enabled {
+                self.msg.recv_timeout(Duration::from_millis(self.timeout))
+            } else {
+                self.msg
+                    .recv()
+                    .map_err(|_| mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected)
+            };
+
+            match msg {
                 Ok(Msg::Kill) => return,
+                Ok(Msg::Enabled(enabled)) => {
+                    self.enabled = enabled;
+                    if !enabled {
+                        self.fake_input
+                            .key_release(&[EV_KEY::KEY_SPACE, EV_KEY::KEY_LEFT, EV_KEY::KEY_RIGHT])
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                }
+                Ok(Msg::ButtonDown) => self.fake_input.key_press(&[EV_KEY::KEY_SPACE]).unwrap(),
+                Ok(Msg::ButtonUp) => self.fake_input.key_release(&[EV_KEY::KEY_SPACE]).unwrap(),
                 Ok(Msg::Delta(delta)) => {
                     // abrupt direction change!
                     if (delta < 0) != (self.last_delta < 0) {
@@ -94,35 +120,31 @@ impl Worker {
 }
 
 /// A bit of a misnomer, since it's only left-right.
-pub struct DPad {
+pub struct Paddle {
     _worker: JoinHandle<()>,
     msg: mpsc::Sender<Msg>,
-
-    fake_input: FakeInput,
 }
 
-impl Drop for DPad {
+impl Drop for Paddle {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         let _ = self.msg.send(Msg::Kill);
     }
 }
 
-impl DPad {
-    pub fn new() -> DPad {
+impl Paddle {
+    pub fn new() -> Paddle {
         let (msg_tx, msg_rx) = mpsc::channel();
 
         let worker = std::thread::spawn(move || Worker::new(msg_rx).run());
 
-        DPad {
+        Paddle {
             _worker: worker,
             msg: msg_tx,
-
-            fake_input: FakeInput::new(),
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl ControlMode for DPad {
+impl ControlMode for Paddle {
     fn meta(&self) -> ControlModeMeta {
         ControlModeMeta {
             name: "Paddle",
@@ -132,16 +154,22 @@ impl ControlMode for DPad {
 
     fn on_start(&mut self, haptics: &DialHaptics) -> DynResult<()> {
         haptics.set_mode(false, Some(3600))?;
+        self.msg.send(Msg::Enabled(true))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn on_end(&mut self, _haptics: &DialHaptics) -> DynResult<()> {
+        self.msg.send(Msg::Enabled(false))?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
     fn on_btn_press(&mut self, _: &DialHaptics) -> DynResult<()> {
-        eprintln!("space");
-        self.fake_input.key_click(&[EV_KEY::KEY_SPACE])?;
+        self.msg.send(Msg::ButtonDown)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
     fn on_btn_release(&mut self, _: &DialHaptics) -> DynResult<()> {
+        self.msg.send(Msg::ButtonUp)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 8534cfe..72f4cf3 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ fn true_main() -> DynResult<()> {
             Box::new(controller::controls::ScrollZoom::new()),
             Box::new(controller::controls::Volume::new()),
             Box::new(controller::controls::Media::new()),
-            Box::new(controller::controls::DPad::new()),
+            Box::new(controller::controls::Paddle::new()),
         ],
     );