diff --git a/.config/sx/sxrc b/.config/sx/sxrc
index 03464ba..bec46c3 100755
--- a/.config/sx/sxrc
+++ b/.config/sx/sxrc
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # start the wm
-sxhkd &
+mode sxhkdrc
 bspwm
diff --git a/.config/sxhkd/sxhkdrc b/.config/sxhkd/sxhkdrc
index e531a21..940dcf6 100644
--- a/.config/sxhkd/sxhkdrc
+++ b/.config/sxhkd/sxhkdrc
@@ -50,5 +50,6 @@ super + {_,shift + } {1-9,0}
 super + {t,f,s}
 	bspc node -t {tiled,floating,fullscreen}
 
+# x230t specific -- activate the tablet menu
 XF86RotateWindows
 	tabletmenu
diff --git a/builds/statusbar/statusbar/statusbar.py b/builds/statusbar/statusbar/statusbar.py
index 2fef7ed..ffa3827 100644
--- a/builds/statusbar/statusbar/statusbar.py
+++ b/builds/statusbar/statusbar/statusbar.py
@@ -38,6 +38,22 @@ def generate_desktop_string(monitor_array):
 
     return ' '.join(output)
 
+def filemodfactory(filename: str, modname: str):
+    def filemod(queue, _):
+        orig = 0
+        while True:
+            new = os.path.getmtime(filename)
+            if(new > orig):
+                with open(filename, 'r') as f:
+                    queue.put({
+                        "module": modname,
+                        "data": f.read().rstrip()
+                    })
+                orig = new
+            time.sleep(0.1)
+
+    return filemod
+
 def bspwm(queue, monitor):
     client = socket.socket(
         socket.AF_UNIX,
@@ -90,11 +106,12 @@ def filecheckerfactory(filename: str, modname: str, timeout=60):
 
 battery = filecheckerfactory("/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/capacity", "bat")
 batterystatus = filecheckerfactory("/sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/status", "batstat")
+sxhkdmode = filemodfactory("/home/usr/.cache/sxhkd_mode", "sxhkdmode")
 
 def render(modules) -> str:
     columns, _ = os.get_terminal_size(0)
 
-    left = "{} | {}".format(modules["clock"], modules["bspwm"])
+    left = "{} | {}({})".format(modules["clock"], modules["bspwm"], modules["sxhkdmode"])
     right = "{}({})".format(modules["bat"], modules["batstat"])
     padding = " " * (columns - len(left) - len(right) - 0)
 
@@ -146,7 +163,7 @@ def main():
             ))
         return
     queue = Queue()
-    modules = [bspwm, clock, battery, batterystatus]
+    modules = [bspwm, clock, battery, batterystatus, sxhkdmode]
     [Process(target=module, args=(queue, argv[1])).start() for module in modules]
 
     module_outputs = defaultdict(lambda: "")
diff --git a/builds/utils/sh/mode b/builds/utils/sh/mode
index 8aaf7e2..d020d65 100755
--- a/builds/utils/sh/mode
+++ b/builds/utils/sh/mode
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ if [ -n "$1" ]; then
 	pkill sxhkd
 	sxhkd -c ~/.config/sxhkd/$1 & disown
 	[ -f "~/.config/sxhkd/$1.sh" ] && ~/.config/sxhkd/$1.sh
+	echo "$1" > ~/.cache/sxhkd_mode
 
 	exit
 fi