diff --git a/wled00/presets.cpp b/wled00/presets.cpp
index 9023baf344..e4c43c3695 100644
--- a/wled00/presets.cpp
+++ b/wled00/presets.cpp
@@ -160,9 +160,6 @@ void handlePresets()
 
   JsonObject fdo;
 
-  presetToApply = 0; //clear request for preset
-  callModeToApply = 0;
-
   DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("Applying preset: %u\n"), (unsigned)tmpPreset);
 
   #if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32S2) || defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32C3)
@@ -176,13 +173,31 @@ void handlePresets()
   } else
   #endif
   {
-  presetErrFlag = readObjectFromFileUsingId(getPresetsFileName(tmpPreset < 255), tmpPreset, pDoc) ? ERR_NONE : ERR_FS_PLOAD;
+    presetErrFlag = readObjectFromFileUsingId(getPresetsFileName(tmpPreset < 255), tmpPreset, pDoc) ? ERR_NONE : ERR_FS_PLOAD;
   }
   fdo = pDoc->as<JsonObject>();
 
-  // only reset errorflag if previous error was preset-related
+  // only reset error flag if previous error was preset-related
   if ((errorFlag == ERR_NONE) || (errorFlag == ERR_FS_PLOAD)) errorFlag = presetErrFlag;
 
+  // is this the boot preset and will the preset set lor
+  const bool isBootPreset = (tmpMode==CALL_MODE_INIT || tmpPreset==bootPreset);
+  const bool presetWillSetLor = (!fdo["lor"].isNull() && fdo["lor"].as<int>() > REALTIME_OVERRIDE_NONE);
+
+  // During setup, only allow the boot preset itself or safe boot-preset chains.
+  const bool shouldAllowPresetApply = (
+                                       setupComplete || isBootPreset ||
+                                       (currentPreset == bootPreset && realtimeOverride > REALTIME_OVERRIDE_NONE) ||
+                                       (currentPreset == bootPreset && currentPlaylist > 0 && presetWillSetLor)
+                                       );
+  if (shouldAllowPresetApply) {
+    presetToApply = 0; //clear request for preset
+    callModeToApply = 0;
+  } else {
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
+    return;
+  }
+
   //HTTP API commands
   const char* httpwin = fdo["win"];
   if (httpwin) {
@@ -194,8 +209,11 @@ void handlePresets()
     changePreset = true;
   } else {
     if (!fdo["seg"].isNull() || !fdo["on"].isNull() || !fdo["bri"].isNull() || !fdo["nl"].isNull() || !fdo["ps"].isNull() || !fdo[F("playlist")].isNull()) changePreset = true;
-    if (!(tmpMode == CALL_MODE_BUTTON_PRESET && fdo["ps"].is<const char *>() && strchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~') != strrchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~')))
-      fdo.remove("ps"); // remove load request for presets to prevent recursive crash (if not called by button and contains preset cycling string "1~5~")
+    
+    // only allow load requests from boot presets that set lor or button calls
+    const bool isButtonException = (tmpMode == CALL_MODE_BUTTON_PRESET && fdo["ps"].is<const char *>() && strchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~') != strrchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~'));
+    const bool shouldAllowLoadRequest = (isBootPreset && presetWillSetLor) || (tmpMode == CALL_MODE_BUTTON_PRESET && fdo["ps"].is<const char *>() && strchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~') != strrchr(fdo["ps"].as<const char *>(),'~'));
+    if (!shouldAllowLoadRequest) fdo.remove("ps"); // remove load request for presets to prevent recursive crash
     deserializeState(fdo, CALL_MODE_NO_NOTIFY, tmpPreset); // may change presetToApply by calling applyPreset()
   }
   if (!errorFlag && tmpPreset < 255 && changePreset) currentPreset = tmpPreset;
@@ -282,4 +300,4 @@ void deletePreset(byte index) {
   writeObjectToFileUsingId(getPresetsFileName(), index, &empty);
   presetsModifiedTime = toki.second(); //unix time
   updateFSInfo();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/wled00/wled.cpp b/wled00/wled.cpp
index eb6019e6bf..67cb825ae1 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled.cpp
@@ -364,6 +364,7 @@ void WLED::disableWatchdog() {
 
 void WLED::setup()
 {
+  setupComplete = false; // flag to indicate setup is in progress
   #if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32) && defined(WLED_DISABLE_BROWNOUT_DET)
   WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 0); //disable brownout detection
   #endif
@@ -503,6 +504,12 @@ void WLED::setup()
 
   if (needsCfgSave) serializeConfigToFS(); // usermods required new parameters; need to wait for strip to be initialised #4752
 
+  if (bootPreset > 0) {
+    handlePresets();  // handle boot preset
+    handlePlaylist(); // handle playlist if preset queued one
+    handlePresets();  // handle presets again to give a chance for anything queued by the boot preset or playlist
+  }
+  
   if (strcmp(multiWiFi[0].clientSSID, DEFAULT_CLIENT_SSID) == 0 && !configBackupExists())
     showWelcomePage = true;
 
@@ -595,6 +602,8 @@ void WLED::setup()
   WRITE_PERI_REG(RTC_CNTL_BROWN_OUT_REG, 1); //enable brownout detector
   #endif
   markOTAvalid();
+  
+  setupComplete = true; // safety check setup function has completed
 }
 
 void WLED::beginStrip()
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 1a5f1b143e..6ea137ced0 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -890,6 +890,9 @@ WLED_GLOBAL byte optionType;
 WLED_GLOBAL bool configNeedsWrite  _INIT(false);        // flag to initiate saving of config
 WLED_GLOBAL bool doReboot          _INIT(false);        // flag to initiate reboot from async handlers
 
+// setup status
+WLED_GLOBAL bool setupComplete _INIT(false); // flag for preset loading safety
+
 // status led
 #if defined(STATUSLED)
 WLED_GLOBAL unsigned long ledStatusLastMillis _INIT(0);