diff --git a/src/patchers/choplifter.a b/src/patchers/choplifter.a
index 3e7f08b..ce70a51 100644
--- a/src/patchers/choplifter.a
+++ b/src/patchers/choplifter.a
@@ -6,15 +6,9 @@
 ; module by qkumba
 ;-------------------------------
 !zone {
-.exit    rts              ; reachable only via inspect
+         rts              ; reachable only via inspect
 
 Choplifter
-         bit   gMode      ; nothing to do here in verify-only mode
-         bpl   .exit
-
-;; prepare write routine at $2000 for relocated address at $207
-;; the difficulty here is to find three spare pages across all games
-
          lda   #$00
          sta   gCommand
          sta   dct+1
@@ -36,6 +30,9 @@ Choplifter
          cmp   #$23
          bne   .read
 
+         bit   gMode      ; done if in verify-only mode
+         bpl   .exit
+
          ; start with RDOS as a minimal SD base
          ; and copy SD code for free
 
@@ -91,6 +88,8 @@ Choplifter
          sta   gTrack
          jsr   WriteTrackNA
          inc   gPatchCount
+
+.exit
          jsr   .cleanup
          jmp   Pass
 
@@ -236,10 +235,15 @@ ReadChoplifter
          sta   .prolog2+1
          lda   (BASEPAGE<<8)+$D3
          sta   .prolog3+1
---       jsr   .readnib
+
+.checkkey2
+         lda   KEY
+         bmi   .linkcancel2
+         jsr   .readnib
+
 .prolog1
 -        cmp   #$D1      ; SMC
-         bne   --
+         bne   .checkkey2
          jsr   .readnib
 .prolog2
          cmp   #$D1      ; SMC
@@ -256,10 +260,10 @@ ReadChoplifter
          sta   tmp
          jsr   .readnib
          and   tmp
-         sta   (BASEPAGE+$0f)<<8,x
+         sta   (BASEPAGE+8)<<8,x
          inx
          jsr   .read4x4
-         sta   (BASEPAGE+$0f)<<8,x
+         sta   (BASEPAGE+8)<<8,x
          inx
          jsr   .readnib
          sec
@@ -268,19 +272,10 @@ ReadChoplifter
 -        lda   $C0EC
          bpl   -
          and   tmp
-         sta   (BASEPAGE+$0f)<<8,x
+         sta   (BASEPAGE+8)<<8,x
          inx
          cmp   #$EA
          bne   --
-;; future work, just disable for now
-;;         ldx   #0
-;;.copywrite
-;;         lda   .writeroutine,x
-;;         sta   (BASEPAGE+8)<<8,x
-;;         inx
-;;         bne   .copywrite
-         lda   #$60     ; rts
-         sta   ((BASEPAGE+8)<<8)+7
          rts
 
 .readtrack22
@@ -389,12 +384,17 @@ ReadChoplifter
 .stager !pseudopc $500 {
          jsr   .callSD
          jsr   .step
-         lda   #$60
+         lda   #$60     ; rts
          sta   $801
-         lda   #2
+
+         ; to enable writing requires finding three spare pages
+         ; that is common to all games.  I did not succeed.
+         ; for that reason, auto-crack is read-only.
+
+         sta   $207
+
+         lda   #4
          sta   $27
-         jsr   $823     ; read write routine to $200 (but starts at $207)
-         inc   $27
          jsr   $823     ; read patch table to $400
          ldy   #0       ; avoid CFFA bug (Y is not zero on return)
 -        lda   $400,y