diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
index 677704698..5090fe03f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/MeshService.kt
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ class MeshService : Service(), Logging {
 
         class IdNotFoundException(id: String) : Exception("ID not found $id")
         class NodeNumNotFoundException(id: Int) : Exception("NodeNum not found $id")
-        class IsUpdatingException() : Exception("Operation prohibited during firmware update")
+
+        /** We treat software update as similar to loss of comms to the regular bluetooth service (so things like sendPosition for background GPS ignores the problem */
+        class IsUpdatingException() : RadioNotConnectedException("Operation prohibited during firmware update")
 
         /**
          * Talk to our running service and try to set a new device address.  And then immediately
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/RadioInterfaceService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/RadioInterfaceService.kt
index c24e5aa87..78890c334 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/RadioInterfaceService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/geeksville/mesh/service/RadioInterfaceService.kt
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
 import kotlinx.coroutines.cancel
 
 
-class RadioNotConnectedException(message: String = "Not connected to radio") :
+open class RadioNotConnectedException(message: String = "Not connected to radio") :
     BLEException(message)