diff --git a/lib/frame.js b/lib/frame.js
index 11fd61d..9b4dc84 100644
--- a/lib/frame.js
+++ b/lib/frame.js
@@ -141,10 +141,6 @@
 		return true;
 	}
 	
-	settings.onloaded(function(){
-		interceptWindow(window);
-	});
-	
 	message("register listener for messages from background script");
 	browser.runtime.onMessage.addListener(function(data){
 		if (data["canvasBlocker-unload"]){
@@ -162,4 +158,17 @@
 			notice("notifications sent");
 		}
 	});
+	
+	// need to wait for the settings to arrive!
+	while (settings.isStillDefault){
+		logging.message("Starting synchronous request to wait for settings.");
+		let xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
+		xhr.open("GET", browser.extension.getURL("releaseNotes.txt"), false);
+		xhr.send();
+		logging.message("settings still default?", settings.isStillDefault);
+	}
+
+	settings.onloaded(function(){
+		interceptWindow(window);
+	});
 }());
\ No newline at end of file