diff --git a/pkg/daemon/api/games.go b/pkg/daemon/api/games.go
index cc3d7348..a08d5f2e 100644
--- a/pkg/daemon/api/games.go
+++ b/pkg/daemon/api/games.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/render"
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
+	"github.com/wizzomafizzo/tapto/pkg/assets"
 	"github.com/wizzomafizzo/tapto/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/wizzomafizzo/tapto/pkg/database/gamesdb"
 	"github.com/wizzomafizzo/tapto/pkg/platforms"
@@ -64,7 +65,12 @@ func (s *Index) GenerateIndex(platform platforms.Platform, cfg *config.UserConfi
 				if err != nil {
 					s.CurrentDesc = status.SystemId
 				} else {
-					s.CurrentDesc = system.Id
+					md, err := assets.GetSystemMetadata(system.Id)
+					if err != nil {
+						s.CurrentDesc = system.Id
+					} else {
+						s.CurrentDesc = md.Name
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			log.Info().Msgf("indexing status: %s", s.CurrentDesc)
diff --git a/pkg/platforms/mister/tracker.go b/pkg/platforms/mister/tracker.go
index abc0a44e..37c6960b 100644
--- a/pkg/platforms/mister/tracker.go
+++ b/pkg/platforms/mister/tracker.go
@@ -204,9 +204,8 @@ func (tr *Tracker) LoadCore() {
 
 		result := tr.LookupCoreName(coreName, tr.ActiveGamePath)
 		if result != (NameMapping{}) {
-			mister.SetActiveGame(result.CoreName)
-
 			if result.ArcadeName != "" {
+				mister.SetActiveGame(result.CoreName)
 				tr.ActiveGameId = coreName
 				tr.ActiveGameName = result.ArcadeName
 				tr.ActiveGamePath = "" // TODO: any way to find this?
@@ -242,6 +241,10 @@ func (tr *Tracker) loadGame() {
 		log.Error().Msgf("error getting active game: %s", err)
 		tr.stopGame()
 		return
+	} else if !filepath.IsAbs(activeGame) {
+		// arcade game, ignore handling
+		// TODO: will this work ok long term?
+		return
 	} else if activeGame == "" {
 		tr.stopGame()
 		return