diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 907df63e..58181485 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -240,6 +240,10 @@ if (window.location.host.endsWith('8bitworkshop.com')) {
     <!-- emulator video -->
     <div id="emuscreen">
     </div>
+    <div id="javatari-div" style="float:center;margin:10px;display:none">
+      <div id="javatari-screen" style="margin: 0 auto; box-shadow: 2px 2px 10px rgb(60, 60, 60);"></div>
+      <div id="javatari-console-panel" style="margin: 0 auto; box-shadow: 2px 2px 10px rgb(60, 60, 60);"></div>
+    </div>
     <!-- control instructions -->
     <div class="emucontrols-vcs text-center small control-insns" style="display:none">
       <span class="control-def"><span class="control-key">&#x2190;&#x2191;&#x2193;&#x2192;</span> Joystick</span>
@@ -269,10 +273,6 @@ if (window.location.host.endsWith('8bitworkshop.com')) {
       <span class="control-def"><span class="control-key">&#x2190;&#x2191;&#x2193;&#x2192;</span> Fire</span>
     </div>
     <!-- -->
-    <div id="javatari-div" style="float:center;margin:10px;display:none">
-      <div id="javatari-screen" style="margin: 0 auto; box-shadow: 2px 2px 10px rgb(60, 60, 60);"></div>
-      <div id="javatari-console-panel" style="margin: 0 auto; box-shadow: 2px 2px 10px rgb(60, 60, 60);"></div>
-    </div>
     <div id="emuoverlay" class="emuoverlay" style="display:none">
     </div>
   </div>
diff --git a/src/ui.ts b/src/ui.ts
index 87f06998..e7886b5a 100644
--- a/src/ui.ts
+++ b/src/ui.ts
@@ -1708,7 +1708,12 @@ function startPlatform() {
     if (hasLocalStorage) {
       lastid = localStorage.getItem("__lastid_"+store_id);
     }
-    qs['file'] = lastid || PRESETS[0].id;
+    // load first preset file, unless we're in a repo
+    var defaultfile = lastid || (repo_id ? null : PRESETS[0].id);
+    qs['file'] = defaultfile || 'DEFAULT';
+    if (!defaultfile) {
+      alertError("There is no default main file for this project. Try selecting one from the pulldown.");
+    }
   }
   // legacy vcs stuff
   if (platform_id == 'vcs' && qs['file'].startsWith('examples/') && !qs['file'].endsWith('.a')) {