diff --git a/toolbar/hermes_bridge.shelf b/toolbar/hermes_bridge.shelf
index 529bca1..65e969d 100644
--- a/toolbar/hermes_bridge.shelf
+++ b/toolbar/hermes_bridge.shelf
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ class HermesBridgeWindow(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         self.hostname = socket.gethostname()
         self._build_ui()
         self._refresh()
+        # Connect AFTER refresh — avoids signal-loss from style changes
+        self.btn_toggle.released.connect(self._toggle)
 
     def _build_ui(self):
         self.setWindowTitle("Hermes Bridge")
@@ -86,7 +88,6 @@ class HermesBridgeWindow(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
         self.btn_toggle = QtWidgets.QPushButton("Open Bridge")
         self.btn_toggle.setObjectName("btnToggle")
-        self.btn_toggle.released.connect(self._toggle)
         layout.addWidget(self.btn_toggle)
 
         layout.addWidget(QtWidgets.QLabel("Tell Hermes:"))
@@ -124,6 +125,10 @@ class HermesBridgeWindow(QtWidgets.QWidget):
             f"on {self.hostname} (port {self.port}).")
 
     def _toggle(self):
+        hou.ui.displayMessage(
+            "TOGGLE FIRED! (signal works)",
+            severity=hou.severityType.ImportantMessage,
+            title="Hermes Bridge")
         try:
             if bridge_is_open(self.port):
                 hou.hscript(f"closeport {self.port}")