diff --git a/src/callback.c b/src/callback.c
index 96791a6c..f95fdaea 100644
--- a/src/callback.c
+++ b/src/callback.c
@@ -2099,8 +2099,8 @@ int rstate; /* (reduced state, without ShiftMask) */
  }
 #endif
 
- if((xctx->ui_state & MENUSTART) && (xctx->ui_state2 & MENUSTARTWIRE)) { 
-    tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.10 configure -state active -text {WIRE READY TO DRAW! }", NULL);
+ if((xctx->ui_state & STARTWIRE) || (xctx->ui_state2 & MENUSTARTWIRE) || (tclgetboolvar("persistent_command") && (xctx->last_command & STARTWIRE))) { 
+    tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.10 configure -state active -text {DRAW WIRE! }", NULL);
  } else {
     tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.10 configure -state normal -text { }", NULL);
  }
diff --git a/src/xschem.tcl b/src/xschem.tcl
index 158fa05c..25e6b615 100644
--- a/src/xschem.tcl
+++ b/src/xschem.tcl
@@ -8565,7 +8565,7 @@ tclcommand=\"xschem raw_read \$netlist_dir/[file tail [file rootname [xschem get
   label $topwin.statusbar.6 -text "MODE:"
   label $topwin.statusbar.7 -width 7 
   label $topwin.statusbar.11 -text {Stretch:}
-  label $topwin.statusbar.10 -activebackground blue -text {}
+  label $topwin.statusbar.10 -activebackground green -text {}
   label $topwin.statusbar.9 -textvariable enable_stretch
   label $topwin.statusbar.8 -activebackground red -text {} 
   add_toolbuttons $topwin