diff --git a/acn.go b/acn.go
index e303ac7..65be29b 100644
--- a/acn.go
+++ b/acn.go
@@ -23,34 +23,29 @@ const (
 	connected
 )
 
-func ensureConnected(m model) (bool, tea.Msg) {
-	switch m.connState {
+func isConnected(m model) (bool, tea.Msg) {
+	switch m.acnState {
 	case offline:
-		return false, offlineMsg{}
+		return false, acnOfflineMsg{}
 	case connecting:
-		return false, stillConnectingMsg{}
+		return false, acnConnectingMsg{}
 	default:
-		return true, nil
+		return true, acnAlreadyOnlineMsg{}
 	}
 }
 
-func attemptShutdown(m *model) tea.Msg {
-	switch m.connState {
-	case offline:
-		close(m.statusBuffer)
-		return shutdownMsg{quit: true}
-	case connecting:
-		return stillConnectingMsg{}
+func turnAcnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
+	if ok, msg := isConnected(*m); !ok {
+		switch msg.(type) {
+		case acnConnectingMsg:
+			return msg
+		case acnAlreadyOnlineMsg:
+			return msg
+		}
 	}
 
-	m.app.Shutdown()
-	m.acn.Close()
-	close(m.statusBuffer)
+	m.acnState = connecting
 
-	return shutdownMsg{quit: true}
-}
-
-func acnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
 	mrand.Seed(int64(time.Now().Nanosecond()))
 	port := mrand.Intn(1000) + 9600
 	controlPort := port + 1
@@ -58,15 +53,15 @@ func acnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
 	key := make([]byte, 64)
 	_, err := rand.Read(key)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to generate control port password: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to generate control port password: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(path.Join(m.userDir, "/.tor", "tor"), 0700); err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to create tor directory: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to create tor directory: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(path.Join(m.userDir, "profiles"), 0700); err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to create profiles directory: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to create profiles directory: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	if err := tor.NewTorrc().
@@ -75,7 +70,7 @@ func acnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
 		WithControlPort(controlPort).
 		WithHashedPassword(base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(key)).
 		Build(filepath.Join(m.userDir, ".tor", "tor", "torrc")); err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise torrc builder: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise torrc builder: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	m.sendStatus("Initialising Tor ACN...")
@@ -90,18 +85,18 @@ func acnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
 		},
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to bootstrap tor: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to bootstrap tor: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	m.sendStatus("Waiting for ACN to bootstrap...")
 
 	if err := acn.WaitTillBootstrapped(); err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise tor: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise tor: %s", err)}
 	}
 
 	settingsFile, err := settings.InitGlobalSettingsFile(m.userDir, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		return errMsg{Err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise settings: %s", err)}
+		return acnErrMsg{err: fmt.Errorf("unable to initialise settings: %s", err)}
 	}
 	gSettings := settingsFile.ReadGlobalSettings()
 	gSettings.ExperimentsEnabled = false
@@ -111,27 +106,24 @@ func acnOn(m *model) tea.Msg {
 	app := app.NewApp(acn, m.userDir, settingsFile)
 	app.InstallEngineHooks(connections.DefaultEngineHooks{})
 
-	m.sendStatus("Tor ACN is up and running, all engines go")
-
-	return appInitialisedMsg{
+	return acnOnMsg{
 		app: app,
 		acn: acn,
 	}
 }
 
-func acnOff(m *model) tea.Msg {
-	switch m.connState {
+func turnAcnOff(m *model, quitProgram bool) tea.Msg {
+	switch m.acnState {
 	case offline:
-		return offlineMsg{}
+		if !quitProgram {
+			return acnOfflineMsg{}
+		}
 	case connecting:
-		return stillConnectingMsg{}
+		return acnConnectingMsg{}
 	}
 
 	m.app.Shutdown()
 	m.acn.Close()
 
-	return shutdownMsg{
-		quit:   false,
-		status: "ACN successfully turned off",
-	}
+	return acnOffMsg{quitProgram: quitProgram}
 }
diff --git a/input.go b/input.go
index a557cd5..2e52b47 100644
--- a/input.go
+++ b/input.go
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ func handleCommand(cmd, hiddenInput string) tea.Msg {
 		return cmdMsg{output: strings.Split(cmdHelp, "\n")}
 
 	case isQuitCmd(cmds):
-		return shutdownMsg{quit: true}
+		return turnAcnOffMsg{quitProgram: true}
 
 	case isStartCmd(cmds):
-		return startMsg{}
+		return showGettingStartedGuideMsg{}
 
 	case isProfileCreateCmd(cmds):
 		if len(cmds) != 5 {
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ func handleCommand(cmd, hiddenInput string) tea.Msg {
 		return profileInfoMsg{}
 
 	case isAcnOnCmd(cmds):
-		return acnOnMsg{}
+		return turnAcnOnMsg{}
 
 	case isAcnOffCmd(cmds):
-		return acnOffMsg{}
+		return turnAcnOffMsg{}
 
 	case isClearCmd(cmds):
-		return clearMsg{}
+		return clearScreenMsg{}
 
 	default:
 		return cmdMsg{output: []string{"unknown command"}}
diff --git a/message.go b/message.go
index 36202eb..b6aac6c 100644
--- a/message.go
+++ b/message.go
@@ -5,34 +5,50 @@ import (
 	"git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/connectivity"
 )
 
-type sendStatusMsg struct{ lines []string }
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// ACN messages
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+type turnAcnOnMsg struct{}
 
-type renderStatusMsg struct{ line string }
-
-type errMsg struct{ Err error }
-
-func (e errMsg) Error() string {
-	return e.Err.Error()
-}
-
-type appInitialisedMsg struct {
+type acnOnMsg struct {
 	app app.Application
 	acn connectivity.ACN
 }
 
-type cmdMsg struct{ output []string }
-
-type offlineMsg struct{}
-
-type startMsg struct{}
-
-type stillConnectingMsg struct{}
-
-type shutdownMsg struct {
-	quit   bool
-	status string
+type turnAcnOffMsg struct {
+	quitProgram bool
 }
 
+type acnOffMsg struct {
+	quitProgram bool
+}
+
+type acnAlreadyOnlineMsg struct{}
+
+type acnOfflineMsg struct{}
+
+type acnConnectingMsg struct{}
+
+type acnErrMsg struct {
+	err error
+}
+
+func (e acnErrMsg) Error() string {
+	return e.err.Error()
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// help messages
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+type showGettingStartedGuideMsg struct{}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// profile messages
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+type profileInfoMsg struct{}
+
+type startProfileQueuePollMsg struct{ onion string }
+
 type createProfileMsg struct {
 	name     string
 	password string
@@ -42,12 +58,13 @@ type profileUnlockMsg struct {
 	password string
 }
 
-type acnOffMsg struct{}
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// TODO: categorize messages below
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+type sendStatusMsg struct{ lines []string }
 
-type acnOnMsg struct{}
+type renderStatusMsg struct{ line string }
 
-type clearMsg struct{}
+type cmdMsg struct{ output []string }
 
-type profileInfoMsg struct{}
-
-type startProfileQueuePollMsg struct{ onion string }
+type clearScreenMsg struct{}
diff --git a/model.go b/model.go
index 6a039c4..665ef54 100644
--- a/model.go
+++ b/model.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ type model struct {
 	username string
 	userDir  string
 
-	connState int
+	acnState int
 
 	menuState int
 	menuBar   []string
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func newModel(username, homeDir string, debug bool) model {
 		username: username,
 		userDir:  path.Join(homeDir, "/.cairde/"),
 
-		connState: offline,
+		acnState: offline,
 
 		menuBar:   []string{"STATUS"},
 		menuState: 0,
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		switch msg.String() {
 		case "ctrl+c":
 			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
-				return attemptShutdown(&m)
+				return turnAcnOff(&m, true)
 			})
 
 		case "enter":
@@ -249,7 +249,9 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			}
 
 		case "ctrl+l":
-			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return clearMsg{} })
+			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
+				return clearScreenMsg{}
+			})
 
 		default:
 			hidePasswordInput(&m)
@@ -259,34 +261,59 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.input.Reset()
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd(msg.output...))
 
-	case offlineMsg:
+	case turnAcnOffMsg:
+		m.input.Reset()
+		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
+			return turnAcnOff(&m, msg.quitProgram)
+		})
+
+	case acnOffMsg:
+		if msg.quitProgram {
+			return m, tea.Quit
+		}
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("ACN successfully turned off"))
+		m.acnState = offline
+
+	case turnAcnOnMsg:
+		m.input.Reset()
+		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
+			return turnAcnOn(&m)
+		})
+
+	case acnOnMsg:
+		m.app = msg.app
+		m.acn = msg.acn
+		m.app.ActivateEngines(true, true, true)
+		m.acnState = connected
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("ACN is up and running, all engines go"))
+
+	case acnAlreadyOnlineMsg:
+		m.input.Reset()
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("ACN is already online"))
+
+	case acnOfflineMsg:
 		m.input.Reset()
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("ACN is currently offline"))
 
-	case stillConnectingMsg:
+	case acnConnectingMsg:
 		m.input.Reset()
-		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("Still initialising ACN, please hold"))
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd("ACN still initialising, please hold"))
 
-	case startMsg:
+	case acnErrMsg:
+		m.acnState = offline
+		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd(msg.Error()))
+
+	case showGettingStartedGuideMsg:
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd(
 			strings.Split(gettingStartedMessage, "\n")...,
 		))
 		m.input.Reset()
 
-	case shutdownMsg:
-		m.input.Reset()
-		if msg.quit {
-			return m, tea.Quit
-		}
-		if msg.status != "" {
-			cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd(msg.status))
-		}
-
 	case createProfileMsg:
 		m.hiddenInput = ""
 		m.input.Reset()
 
-		if isConnected, msg := ensureConnected(m); !isConnected {
+		if ok, msg := isConnected(m); !ok {
 			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return msg })
 			break
 		}
@@ -315,7 +342,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.hiddenInput = ""
 		m.input.Reset()
 
-		if isConnected, msg := ensureConnected(m); !isConnected {
+		if ok, msg := isConnected(m); !ok {
 			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return msg })
 			break
 		}
@@ -339,7 +366,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case profileInfoMsg:
 		m.input.Reset()
 
-		if isConnected, msg := ensureConnected(m); !isConnected {
+		if ok, msg := isConnected(m); !ok {
 			cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg { return msg })
 			break
 		}
@@ -373,32 +400,11 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.statusViewport.GotoBottom()
 		cmds = append(cmds, m.receiveStatusCmd)
 
-	case clearMsg:
+	case clearScreenMsg:
 		m.input.Reset()
 		m.statusViewportLines = []string{}
 		m.statusViewport.SetContent("")
 		m.statusViewport.GotoTop()
-
-	case acnOffMsg:
-		m.input.Reset()
-		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
-			return acnOff(&m)
-		})
-
-	case acnOnMsg:
-		m.input.Reset()
-		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
-			return acnOn(&m)
-		})
-
-	case appInitialisedMsg:
-		m.app = msg.app
-		m.acn = msg.acn
-		m.connState = connected
-		m.app.ActivateEngines(true, true, true)
-
-	case errMsg:
-		cmds = append(cmds, m.sendStatusCmd(msg.Error()))
 	}
 
 	return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)