diff --git a/include/lorawan.h b/include/lorawan.h
index 66d77f5b..94957c25 100644
--- a/include/lorawan.h
+++ b/include/lorawan.h
@@ -26,5 +26,9 @@ void os_getDevEui(u1_t *buf);
 void showLoraKeys(void);
 void switch_lora(uint8_t sf, uint8_t tx);
 void lora_send(osjob_t *job);
+void lora_enqueuedata(uint8_t messageType, MessageBuffer_t *message);
+void lora_queuereset(void);
+void lora_housekeeping(void);
+esp_err_t lora_stack_init();
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/lorawan.cpp b/src/lorawan.cpp
index 35c9d944..ae0f08c0 100644
--- a/src/lorawan.cpp
+++ b/src/lorawan.cpp
@@ -341,4 +341,70 @@ void lora_send(osjob_t *job) {
                       lora_send);
 }
 
-#endif // HAS_LORA
\ No newline at end of file
+esp_err_t lora_stack_init() {
+#ifndef HAS_LORA
+  return ESP_OK; // continue main program
+#else
+  LoraSendQueue = xQueueCreate(SEND_QUEUE_SIZE, sizeof(MessageBuffer_t));
+  if (LoraSendQueue == 0) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Could not create LORA send queue. Aborting.");
+    return ESP_FAIL;
+  }
+  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LORA send queue created, size %d Bytes",
+           SEND_QUEUE_SIZE * PAYLOAD_BUFFER_SIZE);
+
+  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Starting LMIC...");
+  os_init();    // initialize lmic run-time environment on core 1
+  LMIC_reset(); // initialize lmic MAC
+  LMIC_setLinkCheckMode(0);
+  // This tells LMIC to make the receive windows bigger, in case your clock is
+  // faster or slower. This causes the transceiver to be earlier switched on,
+  // so consuming more power. You may sharpen (reduce) CLOCK_ERROR_PERCENTAGE
+  // in src/lmic_config.h if you are limited on battery.
+  LMIC_setClockError(MAX_CLOCK_ERROR * CLOCK_ERROR_PROCENTAGE / 100);
+  // Set the data rate to Spreading Factor 7.  This is the fastest supported
+  // rate for 125 kHz channels, and it minimizes air time and battery power. Set
+  // the transmission power to 14 dBi (25 mW).
+  LMIC_setDrTxpow(DR_SF7, 14);
+
+#if defined(CFG_US915) || defined(CFG_au921)
+  // in the US, with TTN, it saves join time if we start on subband 1 (channels
+  // 8-15). This will get overridden after the join by parameters from the
+  // network. If working with other networks or in other regions, this will need
+  // to be changed.
+  LMIC_selectSubBand(1);
+#endif
+
+  LMIC_startJoining(); // start joining
+  return ESP_OK;       // continue main program
+#endif
+}
+
+#endif // HAS_LORA
+
+void lora_enqueuedata(uint8_t messageType, MessageBuffer_t *message) {
+  // enqueue message in LORA send queue
+#ifdef HAS_LORA
+  BaseType_t ret =
+      xQueueSendToBack(LoraSendQueue, (void *)message, (TickType_t)0);
+  if (ret == pdTRUE) {
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "%d bytes enqueued for LORA interface",
+             message->MessageSize);
+  } else {
+    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "LORA sendqueue is full");
+  }
+#endif
+}
+
+void lora_queuereset(void) {
+#ifdef HAS_LORA
+  xQueueReset(LoraSendQueue);
+#endif
+}
+
+void lora_housekeeping(void) {
+#ifdef HAS_LORA
+// ESP_LOGD(TAG, "loraloop %d bytes left",
+// uxTaskGetStackHighWaterMark(LoraTask));
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index de80e718..46bf6ddf 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ uint8_t volatile channel = 0;              // channel rotation counter
 uint16_t volatile macs_total = 0, macs_wifi = 0, macs_ble = 0,
                   batt_voltage = 0; // globals for display
 
-hw_timer_t *channelSwitch, *sendCycle, *homeCycle, *displaytimer; // irq tasks
+hw_timer_t *channelSwitch = NULL, *sendCycle = NULL, *homeCycle = NULL, *displaytimer = NULL; // irq tasks
 TaskHandle_t irqHandlerTask, wifiSwitchTask;
 
 std::set<uint16_t> macs; // container holding unique MAC adress hashes
@@ -161,39 +161,8 @@ void setup() {
 // initialize LoRa
 #ifdef HAS_LORA
   strcat_P(features, " LORA");
-  LoraSendQueue = xQueueCreate(SEND_QUEUE_SIZE, sizeof(MessageBuffer_t));
-  if (LoraSendQueue == 0) {
-    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Could not create LORA send queue. Aborting.");
-    exit(0);
-  } else
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LORA send queue created, size %d Bytes",
-             SEND_QUEUE_SIZE * PAYLOAD_BUFFER_SIZE);
-
-  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Starting LMIC...");
-  os_init();    // initialize lmic run-time environment on core 1
-  LMIC_reset(); // initialize lmic MAC
-  LMIC_setLinkCheckMode(0);
-  // This tells LMIC to make the receive windows bigger, in case your clock is
-  // faster or slower. This causes the transceiver to be earlier switched on,
-  // so consuming more power. You may sharpen (reduce) CLOCK_ERROR_PERCENTAGE
-  // in src/lmic_config.h if you are limited on battery.
-  LMIC_setClockError(MAX_CLOCK_ERROR * CLOCK_ERROR_PROCENTAGE / 100);
-  // Set the data rate to Spreading Factor 7.  This is the fastest supported
-  // rate for 125 kHz channels, and it minimizes air time and battery power. Set
-  // the transmission power to 14 dBi (25 mW).
-  LMIC_setDrTxpow(DR_SF7, 14);
-
-#if defined(CFG_US915) || defined(CFG_au921)
-  // in the US, with TTN, it saves join time if we start on subband 1 (channels
-  // 8-15). This will get overridden after the join by parameters from the
-  // network. If working with other networks or in other regions, this will need
-  // to be changed.
-  LMIC_selectSubBand(1);
-#endif
-
-  LMIC_startJoining(); // start joining
-
 #endif
+  assert(lora_stack_init() == ESP_OK);
 
 // initialize SPI
 #ifdef HAS_SPI
diff --git a/src/senddata.cpp b/src/senddata.cpp
index 89657114..b8edda34 100644
--- a/src/senddata.cpp
+++ b/src/senddata.cpp
@@ -13,19 +13,14 @@ void SendData(uint8_t port) {
                                : (PAYLOAD_ENCODER == 4 ? LPP2PORT : LPP1PORT);
   memcpy(SendBuffer.Message, payload.getBuffer(), payload.getSize());
 
-  // enqueue message in LoRa send queue
-#ifdef HAS_LORA
-  if (xQueueSendToBack(LoraSendQueue, (void *)&SendBuffer, (TickType_t)0) ==
-      pdTRUE)
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "%d bytes enqueued to send on LoRa", payload.getSize());
-#endif
-
+  // enqueue message in device's send queues
+  lora_enqueuedata(port, &SendBuffer);
   spi_enqueuedata(port, &SendBuffer);
 
   // clear counter if not in cumulative counter mode
   if ((port == COUNTERPORT) && (cfg.countermode != 1)) {
     reset_counters(); // clear macs container and reset all counters
-    get_salt();     // get new salt for salting hashes
+    get_salt();       // get new salt for salting hashes
     ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Counter cleared");
   }
 } // SendData
@@ -59,9 +54,6 @@ void sendPayload() {
 } // sendpayload()
 
 void flushQueues() {
-#ifdef HAS_LORA
-  xQueueReset(LoraSendQueue);
-#endif
-
+  lora_queuereset();
   spi_queuereset();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/spislave.cpp b/src/spislave.cpp
index 7cd8d729..c6268d81 100644
--- a/src/spislave.cpp
+++ b/src/spislave.cpp
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ void spi_enqueuedata(uint8_t messageType, MessageBuffer_t *message) {
   BaseType_t ret =
       xQueueSendToBack(SPISendQueue, (void *)message, (TickType_t)0);
   if (ret == pdTRUE) {
-    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "%d bytes enqueued for SPI consumption",
+    ESP_LOGI(TAG, "%d bytes enqueued for SPI interface",
              message->MessageSize);
   } else {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "SPI sendqueue is full");