diff --git a/firmware/src/animation_engine.cpp b/firmware/src/animation_engine.cpp
index de8a934..5b9058e 100644
--- a/firmware/src/animation_engine.cpp
+++ b/firmware/src/animation_engine.cpp
@@ -117,10 +117,16 @@ static void animTickTask(void* pvParams) {
     TickType_t lastWake = xTaskGetTickCount();
 
     while (true) {
-        // Drain commandQueue — process ALL pending commands before this frame
+        // Drain commandQueue — process ALL pending commands before this frame.
+        // Guard against NULL: commandQueue is only created in startUdpServer(),
+        // which is called only after WiFi connects. If WiFi never connects (e.g.
+        // wrong credentials, no AP) commandQueue stays NULL and xQueueReceive()
+        // would panic. Skip queue drain safely until UDP server is up.
         LedCommand cmd;
-        while (xQueueReceive(commandQueue, &cmd, 0) == pdTRUE) {
-            applyCommand(cmd);
+        if (commandQueue != NULL) {
+            while (xQueueReceive(commandQueue, &cmd, 0) == pdTRUE) {
+                applyCommand(cmd);
+            }
         }
 
         // Tick Schrank (WS2801, RGB, 160 LEDs, isRGBW=false)
diff --git a/firmware/src/led_driver.h b/firmware/src/led_driver.h
index 88e2840..ea5c7a9 100644
--- a/firmware/src/led_driver.h
+++ b/firmware/src/led_driver.h
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@
 #include "config.h"
 
 // SK6812: RGBW (4 bytes/LED) — MUST use NeoGrbwFeature, never NeoRgbFeature
+// NeoEsp32RmtNWs2812xMethod uses RMT channel N (0-indexed).
+// On ESP32-C3 (RISC-V single-core), only RMT channels 0 and 1 are available.
+// NeoEsp32Rmt0Ws2812xMethod = channel 0, pinned to PIN_SK6812 at runtime.
 using StripWand    = NeoPixelBus<NeoGrbwFeature, NeoEsp32Rmt0Ws2812xMethod>;
 // WS2801: RGB (3 bytes/LED), 2MHz SPI for cable-safe 5m run
-using StripSchrank = NeoPixelBus<NeoRgbFeature, NeoWs2801Spi2MhzMethod>;
+using StripSchrank = NeoPixelBus<NeoRgbFeature, Ws2801Spi2MhzMethod>;
 
 extern StripWand    stripWand;
 extern StripSchrank stripSchrank;