diff --git a/src/js/protocols/webstm32.js b/src/js/protocols/webstm32.js
index 3229984e29..1eae99e76c 100644
--- a/src/js/protocols/webstm32.js
+++ b/src/js/protocols/webstm32.js
@@ -25,19 +25,9 @@ function readSerialAdapter(event) {
     read_serial(event.detail.buffer);
 }
 
-function onTimeoutHandler() {
-    GUI.connect_lock = false;
-    console.log(`${STM32Protocol.logHead} Looking for capabilities via MSP failed`);
-
-    TABS.firmware_flasher.flashingMessage(
-        i18n.getMessage("stm32RebootingToBootloaderFailed"),
-        TABS.firmware_flasher.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.INVALID,
-    );
-}
-
-function onFailureHandler() {
-    GUI.connect_lock = false;
-    TABS.firmware_flasher.refresh();
+function onMSPConnectionError() {
+    gui_log(i18n.getMessage("stm32RebootingToBootloaderFailed"));
+    STM32.handleError();
 }
 
 class STM32Protocol {
@@ -88,6 +78,18 @@ class STM32Protocol {
         this.handleMSPConnect = this.handleMSPConnect.bind(this);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Centralized error handling method that resets UI state and releases connection lock
+     * @param {boolean} resetRebootMode - Whether to reset the reboot mode
+     */
+    handleError(resetRebootMode = true) {
+        GUI.connect_lock = false;
+        if (resetRebootMode) {
+            this.rebootMode = 0;
+        }
+        TABS.firmware_flasher.resetFlashingState();
+    }
+
     handleConnect(event) {
         console.log(`${this.logHead} Connected to serial port`, event.detail, event);
         if (event) {
@@ -118,19 +120,17 @@ class STM32Protocol {
                                 console.log(`${this.logHead} DFU request permission granted`, device);
                             } else {
                                 console.error(`${this.logHead} DFU request permission denied`);
-                                this.rebootMode = 0;
-                                GUI.connect_lock = false;
+                                this.handleError();
                             }
                         })
                         .catch((e) => {
                             console.error(`${this.logHead} DFU request permission failed`, e);
-                            this.rebootMode = 0;
-                            GUI.connect_lock = false;
+                            this.handleError();
                         });
                 }
             }, 3000);
         } else {
-            GUI.connect_lock = false;
+            this.handleError(false);
         }
     }
 
@@ -251,8 +251,8 @@ class STM32Protocol {
                 this.port,
                 this.mspOptions.reboot_baud,
                 this.handleMSPConnect,
-                onTimeoutHandler,
-                onFailureHandler,
+                onMSPConnectionError,
+                onMSPConnectionError,
             );
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/js/tabs/firmware_flasher.js b/src/js/tabs/firmware_flasher.js
index a42f857ea7..22fcd01480 100644
--- a/src/js/tabs/firmware_flasher.js
+++ b/src/js/tabs/firmware_flasher.js
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ const firmware_flasher = {
     selectedBoard: undefined,
     cloudBuildKey: null,
     cloudBuildOptions: null,
-    isFlashing: false,
     intel_hex: undefined, // standard intel hex in string format
     parsed_hex: undefined, // parsed raw hex in array format
     isConfigLocal: false, // Set to true if the user loads one locally
@@ -38,6 +37,9 @@ const firmware_flasher = {
     config: {},
     developmentFirmwareLoaded: false, // Is the firmware to be flashed from the development branch?
     cancelBuild: false,
+    // Properties to preserve firmware state during flashing
+    preFlashingMessage: null,
+    preFlashingMessageType: null,
 };
 
 firmware_flasher.initialize = async function (callback) {
@@ -803,12 +805,17 @@ firmware_flasher.initialize = async function (callback) {
             } else {
                 // Maybe the board is in DFU mode, but it does not have permissions. Ask for them.
                 console.log(`${self.logHead} No valid port detected, asking for permissions`);
-                DFU.requestPermission().then((device) => {
-                    DFU.connect(device.path, firmware, options);
-                });
+
+                DFU.requestPermission()
+                    .then((device) => {
+                        DFU.connect(device.path, firmware, options);
+                    })
+                    .catch((error) => {
+                        console.error("Permission request failed", error);
+                        firmware_flasher.resetFlashingState();
+                    });
             }
 
-            self.isFlashing = false;
             GUI.interval_resume("sponsor");
         }
 
@@ -1258,7 +1265,6 @@ firmware_flasher.initialize = async function (callback) {
 
             const aborted = function (message) {
                 GUI.connect_lock = false;
-                self.isFlashing = false;
                 self.enableFlashButton(true);
                 self.enableLoadRemoteFileButton(true);
                 self.enableLoadFileButton(true);
@@ -1381,7 +1387,9 @@ firmware_flasher.initialize = async function (callback) {
                 return;
             }
 
-            self.isFlashing = true;
+            // Preserve current firmware message state before flashing
+            self.preservePreFlashingState();
+
             GUI.interval_pause("sponsor");
 
             self.enableFlashButton(false);
@@ -1404,7 +1412,6 @@ firmware_flasher.initialize = async function (callback) {
                         : i18n.getMessage("firmwareFlasherUF2SaveFailed"),
                     saved ? self.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.VALID : self.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.INVALID,
                 );
-                self.isFlashing = false;
                 GUI.interval_resume("sponsor");
                 self.enableFlashButton(true);
                 self.enableLoadRemoteFileButton(true);
@@ -1500,6 +1507,42 @@ firmware_flasher.enableDfuExitButton = function (enabled) {
     $("a.exit_dfu").toggleClass("disabled", !enabled);
 };
 
+firmware_flasher.resetFlashingState = function () {
+    console.log(`${this.logHead} Reset flashing state`);
+    this.enableFlashButton(!!this.parsed_hex || !!this.uf2_binary); // Only enable if firmware is loaded
+    this.enableDfuExitButton(PortHandler.dfuAvailable);
+    this.enableLoadRemoteFileButton(true);
+    this.enableLoadFileButton(true);
+
+    // Restore pre-flashing message if firmware is still loaded, otherwise show "not loaded"
+    if (this.parsed_hex || this.uf2_binary) {
+        if (this.preFlashingMessage && this.preFlashingMessageType) {
+            this.flashingMessage(this.preFlashingMessage, this.preFlashingMessageType);
+        }
+    } else {
+        this.flashingMessage(i18n.getMessage("firmwareFlasherFirmwareNotLoaded"), this.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.NEUTRAL);
+    }
+
+    GUI.interval_resume("sponsor");
+};
+
+firmware_flasher.preservePreFlashingState = function () {
+    // Preserve the current firmware message and type before flashing starts
+    const progressLabel = $("span.progressLabel");
+    this.preFlashingMessage = progressLabel.html();
+
+    // Determine the current message type based on CSS classes
+    if (progressLabel.hasClass("valid")) {
+        this.preFlashingMessageType = this.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.VALID;
+    } else if (progressLabel.hasClass("invalid")) {
+        this.preFlashingMessageType = this.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.INVALID;
+    } else if (progressLabel.hasClass("actionRequired")) {
+        this.preFlashingMessageType = this.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.ACTION;
+    } else {
+        this.preFlashingMessageType = this.FLASH_MESSAGE_TYPES.NEUTRAL;
+    }
+};
+
 firmware_flasher.refresh = function (callback) {
     const self = this;
 
diff --git a/src/js/utils/AutoDetect.js b/src/js/utils/AutoDetect.js
index 5d865862db..a0ac55e605 100644
--- a/src/js/utils/AutoDetect.js
+++ b/src/js/utils/AutoDetect.js
@@ -37,8 +37,12 @@ class AutoDetect {
         const port = PortHandler.portPicker.selectedPort;
         const isLoaded = TABS.firmware_flasher.targets ? Object.keys(TABS.firmware_flasher.targets).length > 0 : false;
 
+        if (!PortHandler.portAvailable) {
+            gui_log(i18n.getMessage("firmwareFlasherNoValidPort"));
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (!isLoaded) {
-            console.log("Releases not loaded yet");
             gui_log(i18n.getMessage("firmwareFlasherNoTargetsLoaded"));
             return;
         }