diff --git a/dzgui/controllers/mc.py b/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
index 63c0967..8c7e533 100644
--- a/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
+++ b/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
@@ -536,10 +536,15 @@ class Controller(GObject.GObject):
 
     def has_server_model(self) -> bool:
         treeview = self.get_active_treeview()
-        return treeview.get_model() is not None
+        proxy_man = treeview.get_proxy_man()
+        control = proxy_man.get_control()
+        if control is None:
+            return False
+        if len(control) < 1:
+            return False
+        return True
 
     def _on_check_toggled(self, emitter: Emitter, label: str, state: bool) -> None:
-        print("DEBUG: check toggled, refiltering")
         filter_man = self.get_filter_man()
         filter_man.set_filter(label, state)
 
@@ -547,7 +552,6 @@ class Controller(GObject.GObject):
         ServerModelManager(self, self.get_active_treeview()).refilter(mode)
 
     def _on_map_selection_changed(self, emitter: Emitter, selection: str) -> None:
-        print("DEBUG: map sel changed, refiltering")
         smm = ServerModelManager(self, self.get_active_treeview())
         smm.refilter(FilterMode.MAP)
 
@@ -569,6 +573,12 @@ class Controller(GObject.GObject):
     def get_menu(self) -> "MenuTreeView":
         return self.mediator.menu
 
+    def has_favorites(self) -> bool:
+        favs = self.config_man.get_favorites()
+        if len(favs) < 1:
+            return False
+        return True
+
     def is_in_favs(self) -> bool:
         return self.config_man.is_in_favs()
 
diff --git a/dzgui/main.py b/dzgui/main.py
index eb4000c..6d991dc 100644
--- a/dzgui/main.py
+++ b/dzgui/main.py
@@ -143,5 +143,4 @@ def main() -> None:
         use_miles,
     )
     print("All OK. Loading UI...")
-    logger.critical("e")
     App(prefs)
diff --git a/dzgui/model/proxy_model.py b/dzgui/model/proxy_model.py
index 5454b17..bc816a7 100644
--- a/dzgui/model/proxy_model.py
+++ b/dzgui/model/proxy_model.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class ProxyModelManager:
         for record in self.control_model:
             if row[7] == record[7] and row[8] == record[8]:
                 self.control_model.remove(record)
+        self.wipe_cache()
         self.filter(FilterMode.INITIAL, skip_cache=True)
 
     def update_playercount(self, playercount: "NewPlayerCount") -> None:
@@ -214,6 +215,7 @@ class ProxyModelManager:
     ) -> None:
         self.filter_cache[filters] = (model, rows)
 
+    @deprecated("legacy logic")
     def resync_model(self, addr: str, qport: int) -> None:
         """
         Handle in-situ updates to model during
diff --git a/dzgui/model/servers.py b/dzgui/model/servers.py
index 814e81d..1149a0d 100644
--- a/dzgui/model/servers.py
+++ b/dzgui/model/servers.py
@@ -54,15 +54,9 @@ class ServerModelManager:
         self.preserve_on_fail = False
         self.jobs = 1
 
-        # NOTE: store filter man for access inside thread
         self.proxy_man = tv.get_proxy_man()
         self.thread_man = ThreadingManager(self.controller)
 
-        # TODO: if first iteration, clear filter man control model
-        # literal first load: iteration 1
-        # refresh: should be functionally identical to iteration 1
-        # filter: iteration N+1
-
     def load(self) -> None:
         """
         There may be cases where you want to instantiate this class without dumping servers,
@@ -327,8 +321,8 @@ class ServerModelManager:
         maps = self._get_new_maps()
         filter_man.set_unique_maps(maps)
 
-        self.emitter.emit("servers_loaded_init")
         self.first_iteration = False
+        self.emitter.emit("servers_loaded_init")
         self.emitter.emit("saved_servers_changed")
 
     def _update_maps(self) -> None:
diff --git a/dzgui/views/components/buttons.py b/dzgui/views/components/buttons.py
index bf85c21..c1bd3b1 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/components/buttons.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/components/buttons.py
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ class RefreshButton(IconTextButton):
 
     def _on_refresh_clicked(self, button: Self) -> None:
         """Spawned in a thread"""
-        self.loading = True
-        self.controller.refresh_tree()
+        if self.controller.has_favorites():
+            self.loading = True
+            self.controller.refresh_tree()
         # TODO: get server tab enum
         # if LAN tab, reload existing entries in place
 
diff --git a/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py b/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
index ceb1c14..7b4dd05 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ class Statusbar(Gtk.Grid):
         self.controller.populate_log()
 
     def _on_log_page_loaded(self, emitter: "Emitter") -> None:
+        # FIXME: fails if button was not previously drawn
         self.alert_button.hide()
 
     def _on_mod_page_loaded(self, emitter: "Emitter") -> None: