diff --git a/wled00/wled.cpp b/wled00/wled.cpp
index ef3c2059..85f22060 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled.cpp
@@ -896,6 +896,7 @@ void WLED::beginStrip()
   strip.finalizeInit(); // busses created during deserializeConfig()
   strip.makeAutoSegments();
   strip.setBrightness(0);
+  strip.fill(BLACK);    // WLEDMM avoids random colors at power-on
   strip.setShowCallback(handleOverlayDraw);
 
   if (turnOnAtBoot) {
@@ -913,8 +914,11 @@ void WLED::beginStrip()
   colorUpdated(CALL_MODE_INIT);
 
   // init relay pin
-  if (rlyPin>=0)
+  if (rlyPin>=0) {
+    delay(FRAMETIME_FIXED); // WLEDMM wait a bit, to ensure that no background led communication is happening while powering on the strip
     digitalWrite(rlyPin, (rlyMde ? bri : !bri));
+    delay(50); // wait for relay to switch and power to stabilize
+  }
 }
 
 void WLED::initAP(bool resetAP)
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 5e43322c..e4457d8f 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 // version code in format yymmddb (b = daily build)
-#define VERSION 2501070
+#define VERSION 2501090
 
 // WLEDMM  - you can check for this define in usermods, to only enabled WLEDMM specific code in the "right" fork. Its not defined in AC WLED.
 #define _MoonModules_WLED_