diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index a9bc5e7e0..7fc92150f 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ lib_deps =
 
 ; Common build environment for ESP32 platform
 [common:esp32]
-platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/releases/download/51.03.07/platform-espressif32.zip
+platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32/releases/download/53.03.13/platform-espressif32.zip
 ; This is needed for occasional new features and bug fixes
 ; platform = https://github.com/pioarduino/platform-espressif32#develop
 lib_ignore = WiFiNINA, WiFi101, OneWire
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ board = adafruit_feather_esp32c6
 build_flags =
     -DARDUINO_ADAFRUIT_FEATHER_ESP32C6
     -DARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1
-    -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=3
+    -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=5
 board_build.filesystem = littlefs
 board_build.partitions = min_spiffs.csv
 
diff --git a/src/Wippersnapper.h b/src/Wippersnapper.h
index 7ffe02320..bf640c6f8 100644
--- a/src/Wippersnapper.h
+++ b/src/Wippersnapper.h
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #define WS_VERSION                                                             \
-  "1.0.0-beta.97" ///< WipperSnapper app. version (semver-formatted)
+  "1.0.0-beta.98" ///< WipperSnapper app. version (semver-formatted)
 
 // Reserved Adafruit IO MQTT topics
 #define TOPIC_IO_THROTTLE "/throttle" ///< Adafruit IO Throttle MQTT Topic
diff --git a/src/components/pixels/ws_pixels.cpp b/src/components/pixels/ws_pixels.cpp
index a35eb6e42..2d3b52237 100644
--- a/src/components/pixels/ws_pixels.cpp
+++ b/src/components/pixels/ws_pixels.cpp
@@ -64,12 +64,19 @@ int16_t ws_pixels::allocateStrand() {
 */
 /**************************************************************************/
 void ws_pixels::deallocateStrand(int16_t strandIdx) {
-
   // delete the pixel object
-  if (strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr != nullptr)
+  if (strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr != nullptr) {
+    // Fill with "off"
+    strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr->clear();
+    strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr->show();
+    // Delete the NeoPixel object
     delete strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr;
-  if ((strands[strandIdx].dotStarPtr != nullptr))
+  } else if ((strands[strandIdx].dotStarPtr != nullptr)) {
+    // Fill with "off"
+    strands[strandIdx].dotStarPtr->clear();
+    strands[strandIdx].dotStarPtr->show();
     delete strands[strandIdx].dotStarPtr;
+  }
 
   // re-initialize status pixel (if pixel was prvsly used)
   if (strands[strandIdx].pinNeoPixel == getStatusNeoPixelPin() ||
@@ -243,6 +250,7 @@ bool ws_pixels::addStrand(
       releaseStatusLED(); // release it!
 
     // Create a new strand of NeoPixels
+    WS_DEBUG_PRINTLN("Setting up new NeoPixel Strand...");
     strands[strandIdx].neoPixelPtr = new Adafruit_NeoPixel(
         pixelsCreateReqMsg->pixels_num, strands[strandIdx].pinNeoPixel,
         getNeoPixelStrandOrder(pixelsCreateReqMsg->pixels_ordering));
diff --git a/src/components/statusLED/Wippersnapper_StatusLED.cpp b/src/components/statusLED/Wippersnapper_StatusLED.cpp
index 464e0b8ba..4cbdd4c85 100644
--- a/src/components/statusLED/Wippersnapper_StatusLED.cpp
+++ b/src/components/statusLED/Wippersnapper_StatusLED.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ void initStatusLED() {
     statusPixel = new Adafruit_NeoPixel(
         STATUS_NEOPIXEL_NUM, STATUS_NEOPIXEL_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
     statusPixel->begin();
+    statusPixel->clear();
     statusPixel->show(); // turn OFF all pixels
     WS.lockStatusNeoPixel = true;
   }
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ void initStatusLED() {
                              STATUS_DOTSTAR_PIN_CLK, STATUS_DOTSTAR_COLOR_ORDER)
 #endif
     statusPixelDotStar->begin();
+    statusPixelDotStar->clear();
     statusPixelDotStar->show(); // turn OFF all pixels
     WS.lockStatusDotStar = true;
   }
@@ -99,10 +101,12 @@ void initStatusLED() {
 */
 /****************************************************************************/
 void releaseStatusLED() {
+  WS_DEBUG_PRINTLN("Releasing status LED");
 #ifdef USE_STATUS_NEOPIXEL
-  delete statusPixel; // Deallocate Adafruit_NeoPixel object, set data pin back
-                      // to INPUT.
-  WS.lockStatusNeoPixel = false; // unlock
+  // Deallocate Adafruit_NeoPixel object, set data pin back to INPUT,
+  // and unlock pixel for use by pixels component
+  delete statusPixel;
+  WS.lockStatusNeoPixel = false;
 #endif
 
 #ifdef USE_STATUS_DOTSTAR