diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 628fb93..1e86d54 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "cli.h"
 #include "gui.h"
 #include "dispatcher.h"
+#include "carla.h"
 
 static Engine engine;
 static volatile int keep_running = 1;
@@ -87,6 +88,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         initial_state.clips[i].read_position = 0;
     }
     
+    // Initialize Carla host in the initial state (before dispatcher starts)
+    carla_init(&initial_state.carla_host, NULL);
+    carla_scan_plugins(&initial_state.carla_host);
+    
     // Initialize dispatcher
     dispatch = dispatcher_init(&initial_state);
     
diff --git a/tui.c b/tui.c
index 428cdaf..183347d 100644
--- a/tui.c
+++ b/tui.c
@@ -815,23 +815,34 @@ void tui_init(Engine *engine) {
     g_dispatch = engine->dispatch;
     
     initscr();
+    if (!has_colors()) {
+        endwin();
+        fprintf(stderr, "Terminal does not support colors\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+    
     cbreak();
     noecho();
     keypad(stdscr, TRUE);
     curs_set(0);
     
+    // Check terminal size
+    if (LINES < 20 || COLS < 40) {
+        endwin();
+        fprintf(stderr, "Terminal too small (need at least 20x40)\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+    
     mousemask(BUTTON1_CLICKED | BUTTON3_CLICKED | BUTTON2_CLICKED | BUTTON1_DOUBLE_CLICKED, NULL);
     mouseinterval(10);
 
-    if (has_colors()) {
-        start_color();
-        init_pair(COLOR_EMPTY, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);
-        init_pair(COLOR_RECORDING, COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLACK);
-        init_pair(COLOR_LOOPING, COLOR_GREEN, COLOR_BLACK);
-        init_pair(COLOR_STOPPED, COLOR_BLUE, COLOR_BLACK);
-        init_pair(COLOR_SELECTED, COLOR_BLACK, COLOR_CYAN);
-        init_pair(COLOR_HELP, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLACK);
-    }
+    start_color();
+    init_pair(COLOR_EMPTY, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_BLACK);
+    init_pair(COLOR_RECORDING, COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLACK);
+    init_pair(COLOR_LOOPING, COLOR_GREEN, COLOR_BLACK);
+    init_pair(COLOR_STOPPED, COLOR_BLUE, COLOR_BLACK);
+    init_pair(COLOR_SELECTED, COLOR_BLACK, COLOR_CYAN);
+    init_pair(COLOR_HELP, COLOR_CYAN, COLOR_BLACK);
 }
 
 void tui_run(Engine *engine) {
@@ -844,11 +855,7 @@ void tui_run(Engine *engine) {
         marks[i] = -1;
     }
     
-    // Initialize Carla
-    AppState init_state = dispatcher_get_state();
-    carla_init(&init_state.carla_host, engine->client);
-    carla_scan_plugins(&init_state.carla_host);
-    
+    // Carla is now initialized in main.c before dispatcher starts
     draw_grid();
     
     while (1) {