diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 4b00c5d..33aebc7 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.build.Builder) void {
     nd_build_step.dependOn(&b.addInstallArtifact(nd).step);
 
     // default build
-    const build_all_step = b.step("all", "build everything");
+    const build_all_step = b.step("all", "build nd and ngui");
     build_all_step.dependOn(ngui_build_step);
     build_all_step.dependOn(nd_build_step);
     b.default_step.dependOn(build_all_step);
@@ -123,6 +123,18 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.build.Builder) void {
         const test_step = b.step("test", "run tests");
         test_step.dependOn(&tests.step);
     }
+
+    {
+        const guiplay = b.addExecutable("guiplay", "src/test/guiplay.zig");
+        guiplay.setTarget(target);
+        guiplay.setBuildMode(mode);
+        guiplay.step.dependOn(semver_step);
+        guiplay.addPackagePath("comm", "src/comm.zig");
+
+        const guiplay_build_step = b.step("guiplay", "build GUI playground");
+        guiplay_build_step.dependOn(&b.addInstallArtifact(guiplay).step);
+        guiplay_build_step.dependOn(ngui_build_step);
+    }
 }
 
 const DriverTarget = enum {
diff --git a/src/ngui.zig b/src/ngui.zig
index b2c7799..c11f052 100644
--- a/src/ngui.zig
+++ b/src/ngui.zig
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const buildopts = @import("build_options");
 const std = @import("std");
+const os = std.os;
 const time = std.time;
 
 const comm = @import("comm.zig");
@@ -22,25 +23,26 @@ const logger = std.log.scoped(.ngui);
 
 extern "c" fn ui_update_network_status(text: [*:0]const u8, wifi_list: ?[*:0]const u8) void;
 
-/// global heap allocator used throughout the gui program.
+/// global heap allocator used throughout the GUI program.
 /// TODO: thread-safety?
 var gpa: std.mem.Allocator = undefined;
 
 /// the mutex must be held before any call reaching into lv_xxx functions.
 /// all nm_xxx functions assume it is the case since they are invoked from lvgl c code.
 var ui_mutex: std.Thread.Mutex = .{};
+
 /// the program runs until quit is true.
-var quit: bool = false;
+/// set from sighandler or on unrecoverable comm failure with the daemon.
+var want_quit: bool = false;
+
 var state: enum {
     active, // normal operational mode
     standby, // idling
     alert, // draw user attention; never go standby
 } = .active;
 
-/// setting wakeup brings the screen back from sleep()'ing without waiting
-/// for user action.
-/// can be used by comms when an alert is received from the daemon, to draw
-/// user attention.
+/// by setting wakeup brings the screen back from sleep()'ing without waiting for user action.
+/// can be used by comms when an alert is received from the daemon, to draw user attention.
 /// safe for concurrent use except wakeup.reset() is UB during another thread
 /// wakeup.wait()'ing or timedWait'ing.
 var wakeup = std.Thread.ResetEvent{};
@@ -68,12 +70,13 @@ export fn nm_check_idle_time(_: *lvgl.LvTimer) void {
     }
 }
 
-/// initiate system shutdown leading to power off.
+/// tells the daemon to initiate system shutdown leading to power off.
+/// once all's done, the daemon will send a SIGTERM back to ngui.
 export fn nm_sys_shutdown() void {
-    logger.info("initiating system shutdown", .{});
     const msg = comm.Message.poweroff;
     comm.write(gpa, stdout, msg) catch |err| logger.err("nm_sys_shutdown: {any}", .{err});
-    quit = true;
+    state = .alert; // prevent screen sleep
+    wakeup.set(); // wake up from standby, if any
 }
 
 export fn nm_tab_settings_active() void {
@@ -144,17 +147,16 @@ fn updateNetworkStatus(report: comm.Message.NetworkReport) !void {
     }
 }
 
-/// reads messages from nd; loops indefinitely until program exit
-fn commThread() void {
+/// reads messages from nd.
+/// loops indefinitely until program exit or comm returns EOS.
+fn commThreadLoop() void {
     while (true) {
         commThreadLoopCycle() catch |err| logger.err("commThreadLoopCycle: {any}", .{err});
-        ui_mutex.lock();
-        const do_quit = quit;
-        ui_mutex.unlock();
-        if (do_quit) {
-            return;
-        }
+
+        std.atomic.spinLoopHint();
+        time.sleep(1 * time.ns_per_ms);
     }
+    logger.info("exiting commThreadLoop", .{});
 }
 
 fn commThreadLoopCycle() !void {
@@ -162,8 +164,9 @@ fn commThreadLoopCycle() !void {
         if (err == error.EndOfStream) {
             // pointless to continue running if comms is broken.
             // a parent/supervisor is expected to restart ngui.
+            logger.err("comm.read: EOS", .{});
             ui_mutex.lock();
-            quit = true;
+            want_quit = true;
             ui_mutex.unlock();
         }
         return err;
@@ -175,6 +178,11 @@ fn commThreadLoopCycle() !void {
         .network_report => |report| {
             updateNetworkStatus(report) catch |err| logger.err("updateNetworkStatus: {any}", .{err});
         },
+        .poweroff_progress => |report| {
+            ui_mutex.lock();
+            defer ui_mutex.unlock();
+            ui.poweroff.updateStatus(report) catch |err| logger.err("poweroff.updateStatus: {any}", .{err});
+        },
         else => logger.warn("unhandled msg tag {s}", .{@tagName(msg)}),
     }
 }
@@ -218,6 +226,20 @@ fn usage(prog: []const u8) !void {
     , .{prog});
 }
 
+/// handles sig TERM and INT: makes the program exit.
+///
+/// note: must avoid locking ui_mutex within the handler since it may lead to
+/// a race and a deadlock where the sighandler is invoked while the mutex is held
+/// by the UI loop because a sighandler invocation interrupts main execution flow,
+/// and so the mutex would then remain locked indefinitely.
+fn sighandler(sig: c_int) callconv(.C) void {
+    logger.info("received signal {}", .{sig});
+    switch (sig) {
+        os.SIG.INT, os.SIG.TERM => want_quit = true,
+        else => {},
+    }
+}
+
 /// nakamochi UI program entry point.
 pub fn main() anyerror!void {
     // main heap allocator used through the lifetime of nd
@@ -240,8 +262,16 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
     };
 
     // start comms with daemon in a seaparate thread.
-    const th = try std.Thread.spawn(.{}, commThread, .{});
-    th.detach();
+    _ = try std.Thread.spawn(.{}, commThreadLoop, .{});
+
+    // set up a sigterm handler for clean exit.
+    const sa = os.Sigaction{
+        .handler = .{ .handler = sighandler },
+        .mask = os.empty_sigset,
+        .flags = 0,
+    };
+    try os.sigaction(os.SIG.INT, &sa, null);
+    try os.sigaction(os.SIG.TERM, &sa, null);
 
     // run idle timer indefinitely
     _ = lvgl.createTimer(nm_check_idle_time, 2000, null) catch |err| {
@@ -249,16 +279,12 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
     };
 
     // main UI thread; must never block unless in idle/sleep mode
-    // TODO: handle sigterm
-    while (true) {
+    while (!want_quit) {
         ui_mutex.lock();
-        var till_next_ms = lvgl.loopCycle();
-        const do_quit = quit;
+        var till_next_ms = lvgl.loopCycle(); // UI loop
         const do_state = state;
         ui_mutex.unlock();
-        if (do_quit) {
-            return;
-        }
+
         if (do_state == .standby) {
             // go into a screen sleep mode due to no user activity
             wakeup.reset();
@@ -266,6 +292,7 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
                 logger.err("comm.write standby: {any}", .{err});
             };
             screen.sleep(&wakeup);
+
             // wake up due to touch screen activity or wakeup event is set
             logger.info("waking up from sleep", .{});
             ui_mutex.lock();
@@ -279,10 +306,14 @@ pub fn main() anyerror!void {
             ui_mutex.unlock();
             continue;
         }
+
         std.atomic.spinLoopHint();
-        // sleep at least 1ms
-        time.sleep(@max(1, till_next_ms) * time.ns_per_ms);
+        time.sleep(@max(1, till_next_ms) * time.ns_per_ms); // sleep at least 1ms
     }
+    logger.info("main UI loop terminated", .{});
+
+    // not waiting for comm thread because it is terminated at program exit here
+    // anyway.
 }
 
 test "tick" {
diff --git a/src/test/guiplay.zig b/src/test/guiplay.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6082574
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/guiplay.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const time = std.time;
+const os = std.os;
+
+const comm = @import("comm");
+
+const logger = std.log.scoped(.play);
+const stderr = std.io.getStdErr().writer();
+
+var ngui_proc: std.ChildProcess = undefined;
+var sigquit = false;
+
+fn sighandler(sig: c_int) callconv(.C) void {
+    logger.info("received signal {} (TERM={} INT={})", .{ sig, os.SIG.TERM, os.SIG.INT });
+    switch (sig) {
+        os.SIG.INT, os.SIG.TERM => sigquit = true,
+        else => {},
+    }
+}
+
+fn fatal(comptime fmt: []const u8, args: anytype) noreturn {
+    stderr.print(fmt, args) catch {};
+    if (fmt[fmt.len - 1] != '\n') {
+        stderr.writeByte('\n') catch {};
+    }
+    std.process.exit(1);
+}
+
+const Flags = struct {
+    ngui_path: ?[:0]const u8 = null,
+
+    fn deinit(self: @This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+        if (self.ngui_path) |p| allocator.free(p);
+    }
+};
+
+fn parseArgs(gpa: std.mem.Allocator) !Flags {
+    var flags: Flags = .{};
+
+    var args = try std.process.ArgIterator.initWithAllocator(gpa);
+    defer args.deinit();
+    const prog = args.next() orelse return error.NoProgName;
+
+    var lastarg: enum {
+        none,
+        ngui_path,
+    } = .none;
+    while (args.next()) |a| {
+        switch (lastarg) {
+            .none => {},
+            .ngui_path => {
+                flags.ngui_path = try gpa.dupeZ(u8, a);
+                lastarg = .none;
+                continue;
+            },
+        }
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, a, "-ngui")) {
+            lastarg = .ngui_path;
+        } else {
+            fatal("unknown arg name {s}", .{a});
+        }
+    }
+    if (lastarg != .none) {
+        fatal("invalid arg: {s} requires a value", .{@tagName(lastarg)});
+    }
+
+    if (flags.ngui_path == null) {
+        const dir = std.fs.path.dirname(prog) orelse "/";
+        flags.ngui_path = try std.fs.path.joinZ(gpa, &.{ dir, "ngui" });
+    }
+
+    return flags;
+}
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    var gpa_state = std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{}){};
+    defer if (gpa_state.deinit()) {
+        logger.err("memory leaks detected", .{});
+    };
+    const gpa = gpa_state.allocator();
+    const flags = try parseArgs(gpa);
+    defer flags.deinit(gpa);
+
+    ngui_proc = std.ChildProcess.init(&.{flags.ngui_path.?}, gpa);
+    ngui_proc.stdin_behavior = .Pipe;
+    ngui_proc.stdout_behavior = .Pipe;
+    ngui_proc.stderr_behavior = .Inherit;
+    ngui_proc.spawn() catch |err| {
+        fatal("unable to start ngui: {any}", .{err});
+    };
+
+    const sa = os.Sigaction{
+        .handler = .{ .handler = sighandler },
+        .mask = os.empty_sigset,
+        .flags = 0,
+    };
+    try os.sigaction(os.SIG.INT, &sa, null);
+    try os.sigaction(os.SIG.TERM, &sa, null);
+
+    const uireader = ngui_proc.stdout.?.reader();
+    const uiwriter = ngui_proc.stdin.?.writer();
+    comm.write(gpa, uiwriter, .ping) catch |err| {
+        logger.err("comm.write ping: {any}", .{err});
+    };
+
+    var poweroff = false;
+    while (!sigquit) {
+        std.atomic.spinLoopHint();
+        time.sleep(100 * time.ns_per_ms);
+        if (poweroff) {
+            // GUI is not expected to send anything back at this point,
+            // so just loop until we're terminated by a SIGTERM (sigquit).
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        const msg = comm.read(gpa, uireader) catch |err| {
+            logger.err("comm.read: {any}", .{err});
+            continue;
+        };
+        logger.debug("got ui msg tagged {s}", .{@tagName(msg)});
+        switch (msg) {
+            .pong => {
+                logger.info("received pong from ngui", .{});
+            },
+            .poweroff => {
+                poweroff = true;
+
+                logger.info("sending poweroff status1", .{});
+                var s1: comm.Message.PoweroffProgress = .{ .services = &.{
+                    .{ .name = "lnd", .stopped = false, .err = null },
+                    .{ .name = "bitcoind", .stopped = false, .err = null },
+                } };
+                comm.write(gpa, uiwriter, .{ .poweroff_progress = s1 }) catch |err| logger.err("comm.write: {any}", .{err});
+
+                time.sleep(2 * time.ns_per_s);
+                logger.info("sending poweroff status2", .{});
+                var s2: comm.Message.PoweroffProgress = .{ .services = &.{
+                    .{ .name = "lnd", .stopped = true, .err = null },
+                    .{ .name = "bitcoind", .stopped = false, .err = null },
+                } };
+                comm.write(gpa, uiwriter, .{ .poweroff_progress = s2 }) catch |err| logger.err("comm.write: {any}", .{err});
+
+                time.sleep(3 * time.ns_per_s);
+                logger.info("sending poweroff status3", .{});
+                var s3: comm.Message.PoweroffProgress = .{ .services = &.{
+                    .{ .name = "lnd", .stopped = true, .err = null },
+                    .{ .name = "bitcoind", .stopped = true, .err = null },
+                } };
+                comm.write(gpa, uiwriter, .{ .poweroff_progress = s3 }) catch |err| logger.err("comm.write: {any}", .{err});
+            },
+            else => {},
+        }
+    }
+
+    logger.info("killing ngui", .{});
+    const term = ngui_proc.kill();
+    logger.info("ngui_proc.kill term: {any}", .{term});
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/lvgl.zig b/src/ui/lvgl.zig
index f61ff7e..77bada1 100644
--- a/src/ui/lvgl.zig
+++ b/src/ui/lvgl.zig
@@ -329,12 +329,17 @@ pub inline fn paletteDarken(p: Palette, l: PaletteModLevel) Color {
 
 /// represents lv_obj_t type in C.
 pub const LvObj = opaque {
-    /// deallocates all the resources used by the object, including its children.
+    /// deallocates all resources used by the object, including its children.
     /// user data pointers are untouched.
     pub fn destroy(self: *LvObj) void {
         lv_obj_del(self);
     }
 
+    /// deallocates all resources used by the object's children.
+    pub fn deleteChildren(self: *LvObj) void {
+        lv_obj_clean(self);
+    }
+
     /// creates a new event handler where cb is called upon event with the filter code.
     /// to make cb called on any event, use EventCode.all filter.
     /// multiple event handlers are called in the same order as they were added.
@@ -343,6 +348,11 @@ pub const LvObj = opaque {
         return lv_obj_add_event_cb(self, cb, filter, udata);
     }
 
+    /// sets label text to a new value.
+    pub fn setLabelText(self: *LvObj, text: [*:0]const u8) void {
+        lv_label_set_text(self, text);
+    }
+
     /// sets or clears an object flag.
     pub fn setFlag(self: *LvObj, onoff: enum { on, off }, v: ObjFlag) void {
         switch (onoff) {
@@ -388,11 +398,18 @@ pub const LvObj = opaque {
     }
 
     /// selects which side to pad in setPad func.
-    pub const PadSelector = enum { left, right, top, bottom, row, column };
+    pub const PadSelector = enum { all, left, right, top, bottom, row, column };
 
     /// adds a padding style to the object.
     pub fn setPad(self: *LvObj, v: Coord, p: PadSelector, sel: StyleSelector) void {
         switch (p) {
+            .all => {
+                const vsel = sel.value();
+                lv_obj_set_style_pad_left(self, v, vsel);
+                lv_obj_set_style_pad_right(self, v, vsel);
+                lv_obj_set_style_pad_top(self, v, vsel);
+                lv_obj_set_style_pad_bottom(self, v, vsel);
+            },
             .left => lv_obj_set_style_pad_left(self, v, sel.value()),
             .right => lv_obj_set_style_pad_right(self, v, sel.value()),
             .top => lv_obj_set_style_pad_top(self, v, sel.value()),
@@ -453,6 +470,11 @@ pub const LvObj = opaque {
     pub fn setBackgroundColor(self: *LvObj, v: Color, sel: StyleSelector) void {
         lv_obj_set_style_bg_color(self, v, sel.value());
     }
+
+    /// sets the color of a text, typically a label object.
+    pub fn setTextColor(self: *LvObj, v: Color, sel: StyleSelector) void {
+        lv_obj_set_style_text_color(self, v, sel.value());
+    }
 };
 
 pub fn createObject(parent: *LvObj) !*LvObj {
@@ -631,7 +653,7 @@ pub fn createWindow(parent: ?*LvObj, header_height: i16, title: [*:0]const u8) !
     return .{ .winobj = winobj };
 }
 
-const Window = struct {
+pub const Window = struct {
     winobj: *LvObj,
 
     pub fn content(self: Window) *LvObj {
@@ -640,38 +662,58 @@ const Window = struct {
 };
 
 pub const CreateLabelOpt = struct {
-    long_mode: enum(c.lv_label_long_mode_t) {
+    // LVGL defaults to .wrap
+    long_mode: ?enum(c.lv_label_long_mode_t) {
         wrap = c.LV_LABEL_LONG_WRAP, // keep the object width, wrap the too long lines and expand the object height
         dot = c.LV_LABEL_LONG_DOT, // keep the size and write dots at the end if the text is too long
         scroll = c.LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL, // keep the size and roll the text back and forth
         scroll_circular = c.LV_LABEL_LONG_SCROLL_CIRCULAR, // keep the size and roll the text circularly
         clip = c.LV_LABEL_LONG_CLIP, // keep the size and clip the text out of it
-    },
-    pos: enum {
-        none,
-        centered,
-    },
+    } = null,
+    pos: ?PosAlign = null,
 };
 
+/// creates a new label object.
+/// the text is heap-duplicated for the lifetime of the object and free'ed automatically.
 pub fn createLabel(parent: *LvObj, text: [*:0]const u8, opt: CreateLabelOpt) !*LvObj {
     var lb = lv_label_create(parent) orelse return error.OutOfMemory;
     //lv_label_set_text_static(lb, text); // static doesn't work with .dot
     lv_label_set_text(lb, text);
     lv_label_set_recolor(lb, true);
     //lv_obj_set_height(lb, sizeContent); // default
-    lv_label_set_long_mode(lb, @enumToInt(opt.long_mode));
-    if (opt.pos == .centered) {
-        lb.center();
+    if (opt.long_mode) |m| {
+        lv_label_set_long_mode(lb, @enumToInt(m));
+    }
+    if (opt.pos) |p| {
+        lb.posAlign(p, 0, 0);
     }
     return lb;
 }
 
+/// formats label text using std.fmt.format and the provided buffer.
+/// a label object is then created with the resulting text using createLabel.
+/// the text is heap-dup'ed so no need to retain buf. see createLabel.
+pub fn createLabelFmt(parent: *LvObj, buf: []u8, comptime format: []const u8, args: anytype, opt: CreateLabelOpt) !*LvObj {
+    const text = try std.fmt.bufPrintZ(buf, format, args);
+    return createLabel(parent, text, opt);
+}
+
 pub fn createButton(parent: *LvObj, label: [*:0]const u8) !*LvObj {
     const btn = lv_btn_create(parent) orelse return error.OutOfMemory;
-    _ = try createLabel(btn, label, .{ .long_mode = .dot, .pos = .centered });
+    _ = try createLabel(btn, label, .{ .long_mode = .dot, .pos = .center });
     return btn;
 }
 
+/// creates a spinner object with hardcoded dimensions and animation speed
+/// used througout the GUI.
+pub fn createSpinner(parent: *LvObj) !*LvObj {
+    const spin = lv_spinner_create(parent, 1000, 60) orelse return error.OutOfMemory;
+    lv_obj_set_size(spin, 20, 20);
+    const ind: StyleSelector = .{ .part = .indicator };
+    lv_obj_set_style_arc_width(spin, 4, ind.value());
+    return spin;
+}
+
 // ==========================================================================
 // imports from nakamochi custom C code that extends LVGL
 // ==========================================================================
@@ -748,12 +790,14 @@ extern fn lv_obj_add_style(obj: *LvObj, style: *LvStyle, sel: c.lv_style_selecto
 extern fn lv_obj_remove_style(obj: *LvObj, style: ?*LvStyle, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_remove_style_all(obj: *LvObj) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_bg_color(obj: *LvObj, val: Color, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
+extern fn lv_obj_set_style_text_color(obj: *LvObj, val: Color, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_left(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_right(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_top(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_bottom(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_row(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_set_style_pad_column(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
+extern fn lv_obj_set_style_arc_width(obj: *LvObj, val: c.lv_coord_t, sel: c.lv_style_selector_t) void;
 
 // TODO: port these to zig
 extern fn lv_palette_main(c.lv_palette_t) Color;
@@ -766,6 +810,8 @@ extern fn lv_palette_darken(c.lv_palette_t, level: u8) Color;
 extern fn lv_obj_create(parent: ?*LvObj) ?*LvObj;
 /// deletes and deallocates an object and all its children from UI tree.
 extern fn lv_obj_del(obj: *LvObj) void;
+/// deletes children of the obj.
+extern fn lv_obj_clean(obj: *LvObj) void;
 
 extern fn lv_obj_add_flag(obj: *LvObj, v: c.lv_obj_flag_t) void;
 extern fn lv_obj_clear_flag(obj: *LvObj, v: c.lv_obj_flag_t) void;
@@ -794,6 +840,8 @@ extern fn lv_label_set_text_static(label: *LvObj, text: [*:0]const u8) void;
 extern fn lv_label_set_long_mode(label: *LvObj, mode: c.lv_label_long_mode_t) void;
 extern fn lv_label_set_recolor(label: *LvObj, enable: bool) void;
 
+extern fn lv_spinner_create(parent: *LvObj, speed_ms: u32, arc_deg: u32) ?*LvObj;
+
 extern fn lv_win_create(parent: *LvObj, header_height: c.lv_coord_t) ?*LvObj;
 extern fn lv_win_add_title(win: *LvObj, title: [*:0]const u8) ?*LvObj;
 extern fn lv_win_get_content(win: *LvObj) *LvObj;
diff --git a/src/ui/poweroff.zig b/src/ui/poweroff.zig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ff9c14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/poweroff.zig
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+//! poweroff workflow.
+//! all functions assume ui_mutex is always locked.
+const std = @import("std");
+
+const comm = @import("../comm.zig");
+const lvgl = @import("lvgl.zig");
+const symbol = @import("symbol.zig");
+const widget = @import("widget.zig");
+
+const logger = std.log.scoped(.ui);
+
+/// initiates system shutdown leading to power off.
+/// defined in ngui.zig.
+extern fn nm_sys_shutdown() void;
+
+/// called when "power off" button is pressed.
+export fn nm_poweroff_btn_callback(_: *lvgl.LvEvent) void {
+    const proceed: [*:0]const u8 = "PROCEED";
+    const abort: [*:0]const u8 = "CANCEL";
+    const title = " " ++ symbol.Power ++ " SHUTDOWN";
+    const text =
+        \\ARE YOU SURE?
+        \\
+        \\once shut down,
+        \\payments cannot go through via bitcoin or lightning networks
+        \\until the node is powered back on.
+    ;
+    widget.modal(title, text, &.{ proceed, abort }, poweroffModalCallback) catch |err| {
+        logger.err("shutdown btn: modal: {any}", .{err});
+    };
+}
+
+/// poweroff confirmation screen callback.
+fn poweroffModalCallback(btn_idx: usize) void {
+    // proceed = 0, cancel = 1
+    if (btn_idx != 0) {
+        return;
+    }
+    defer nm_sys_shutdown(); // initiate shutdown even if next lines fail
+    global_progress_win = ProgressWin.create() catch |err| {
+        logger.err("ProgressWin.create: {any}", .{err});
+        return;
+    };
+}
+
+var global_progress_win: ?ProgressWin = null;
+
+/// updates the global poweroff process window with the status report.
+/// the report is normally sent to GUI by the daemon.
+pub fn updateStatus(report: comm.Message.PoweroffProgress) !void {
+    if (global_progress_win) |win| {
+        var all_stopped = true;
+        win.resetSvContainer();
+        for (report.services) |sv| {
+            try win.addServiceStatus(sv.name, sv.stopped, sv.err);
+            all_stopped = all_stopped and sv.stopped;
+        }
+        if (all_stopped) {
+            win.status.setLabelText("powering off ...");
+        }
+    } else {
+        return error.NoProgressWindow;
+    }
+}
+
+/// represents a modal window in which the poweroff progress is reported until
+/// the device turns off.
+const ProgressWin = struct {
+    win: lvgl.Window,
+    status: *lvgl.LvObj, // text status label
+    svcont: *lvgl.LvObj, // services container
+
+    /// symbol width next to the service name. this aligns all service names vertically.
+    /// has to be wide enough to accomodate the spinner, but not too wide
+    /// so that the service name is still close to the symbol.
+    const sym_width = 20;
+
+    fn create() !ProgressWin {
+        const win = try lvgl.createWindow(null, 60, " " ++ symbol.Power ++ " SHUTDOWN");
+        errdefer win.winobj.destroy(); // also deletes all children created below
+        const wincont = win.content();
+        wincont.flexFlow(.column);
+
+        // initial status message
+        const status = try lvgl.createLabel(wincont, "shutting down services. it may take up to a few minutes.", .{});
+        status.setWidth(lvgl.sizePercent(100));
+        // prepare a container for services status
+        const svcont = try lvgl.createObject(wincont);
+        svcont.removeBackgroundStyle();
+        svcont.flexFlow(.column);
+        svcont.flexGrow(1);
+        svcont.padColumnDefault();
+        svcont.setWidth(lvgl.sizePercent(100));
+
+        return .{
+            .win = win,
+            .status = status,
+            .svcont = svcont,
+        };
+    }
+
+    fn resetSvContainer(self: ProgressWin) void {
+        self.svcont.deleteChildren();
+    }
+
+    fn addServiceStatus(self: ProgressWin, name: []const u8, stopped: bool, err: ?[]const u8) !void {
+        const row = try lvgl.createObject(self.svcont);
+        row.removeBackgroundStyle();
+        row.flexFlow(.row);
+        row.flexAlign(.center, .center, .center);
+        row.padColumnDefault();
+        row.setPad(10, .all, .{});
+        row.setWidth(lvgl.sizePercent(100));
+        row.setHeightToContent();
+
+        var buf: [100]u8 = undefined;
+        if (err) |e| {
+            const sym = try lvgl.createLabelFmt(row, &buf, symbol.Warning, .{}, .{ .long_mode = .clip });
+            sym.setWidth(sym_width);
+            sym.setTextColor(lvgl.paletteMain(.red), .{});
+            const lb = try lvgl.createLabelFmt(row, &buf, "{s}: {s}", .{ name, e }, .{ .long_mode = .dot });
+            lb.setTextColor(lvgl.paletteMain(.red), .{});
+            lb.flexGrow(1);
+        } else if (stopped) {
+            const sym = try lvgl.createLabelFmt(row, &buf, symbol.Ok, .{}, .{ .long_mode = .clip });
+            sym.setWidth(sym_width);
+            const lb = try lvgl.createLabelFmt(row, &buf, "{s}", .{name}, .{ .long_mode = .dot });
+            lb.flexGrow(1);
+        } else {
+            const spin = try lvgl.createSpinner(row);
+            spin.setWidth(sym_width);
+            const lb = try lvgl.createLabelFmt(row, &buf, "{s}", .{name}, .{ .long_mode = .dot });
+            lb.flexGrow(1);
+        }
+    }
+};
diff --git a/src/ui/ui.zig b/src/ui/ui.zig
index 9321211..8e3e5d3 100644
--- a/src/ui/ui.zig
+++ b/src/ui/ui.zig
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 const buildopts = @import("build_options");
 const std = @import("std");
 
+const comm = @import("../comm.zig");
 const lvgl = @import("lvgl.zig");
 const drv = @import("drv.zig");
 const symbol = @import("symbol.zig");
 const widget = @import("widget.zig");
+pub const poweroff = @import("poweroff.zig");
 
 const logger = std.log.scoped(.ui);
 
 extern "c" fn nm_ui_init(disp: *lvgl.LvDisp) c_int;
-extern fn nm_sys_shutdown() void;
 
 pub fn init() !void {
     lvgl.init();
@@ -25,33 +26,6 @@ pub fn init() !void {
     }
 }
 
-/// called when "power off" button is pressed.
-export fn nm_poweroff_btn_callback(e: *lvgl.LvEvent) void {
-    _ = e;
-    const proceed: [*:0]const u8 = "PROCEED";
-    const abort: [*:0]const u8 = "CANCEL";
-    const title = " " ++ symbol.Power ++ " SHUTDOWN";
-    const text =
-        \\ARE YOU SURE?
-        \\
-        \\once shut down,
-        \\payments cannot go through via bitcoin or lightning networks
-        \\until the node is powered back on.
-    ;
-    widget.modal(title, text, &.{ proceed, abort }, poweroffModalCallback) catch |err| {
-        logger.err("shutdown btn: modal: {any}", .{err});
-    };
-}
-
-fn poweroffModalCallback(btn_idx: usize) void {
-    // proceed = 0, cancel = 1
-    if (btn_idx != 0) {
-        return;
-    }
-    // proceed with shutdown
-    nm_sys_shutdown();
-}
-
 export fn nm_create_info_panel(parent: *lvgl.LvObj) c_int {
     createInfoPanel(parent) catch |err| {
         logger.err("createInfoPanel: {any}", .{err});
@@ -66,5 +40,5 @@ fn createInfoPanel(parent: *lvgl.LvObj) !void {
 
     var buf: [100]u8 = undefined;
     const sver = try std.fmt.bufPrintZ(&buf, "GUI version: {any}", .{buildopts.semver});
-    _ = try lvgl.createLabel(parent, sver, .{ .long_mode = .wrap, .pos = .none });
+    _ = try lvgl.createLabel(parent, sver, .{});
 }
diff --git a/src/ui/widget.zig b/src/ui/widget.zig
index 1338d04..4729347 100644
--- a/src/ui/widget.zig
+++ b/src/ui/widget.zig
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub fn modal(title: [*:0]const u8, text: [*:0]const u8, btns: []const [*:0]const
     const wincont = win.content();
     wincont.flexFlow(.column);
     wincont.flexAlign(.start, .center, .center);
-    const msg = try lvgl.createLabel(wincont, text, .{ .long_mode = .wrap, .pos = .centered });
+    const msg = try lvgl.createLabel(wincont, text, .{ .pos = .center });
     msg.setWidth(lvgl.displayHoriz() - 100);
     msg.flexGrow(1);