diff --git a/ui (gen4)/features/base.js b/ui (gen4)/features/base.js
index 6050acb2..5240bf3b 100755
--- a/ui (gen4)/features/base.js	
+++ b/ui (gen4)/features/base.js	
@@ -805,6 +805,9 @@ module.CropActions = actions.Actions({
 			})
 		}
 	}],
+	clear: [function(){ 
+		delete this.crop_stack }],
+
 	// store the root crop state instead of the current view...
 	//
 	// modes supported:
@@ -841,11 +844,6 @@ module.CropActions = actions.Actions({
 	//
 	crop: ['- Crop/Crop image list',
 		function(list, flatten){ 
-			if(this.data.length == 0){
-				return
-			}
-
-			//list = list || this.data.order
 			list = list || this.data.getImages()
 
 			if(this.crop_stack == null){
@@ -917,9 +915,12 @@ module.CropActions = actions.Actions({
 	
 	// XXX not sure if we actually need this...
 	cropFlatten: ['Crop/Flatten',
-		function(list){ this.crop(list, true) }],
+		function(list){ this.data.length > 0 && this.crop(list, true) }],
 	cropRibbon: ['Crop/Crop current ribbon',
 		function(ribbon, flatten){
+			if(this.data.length == 0){
+				return
+			}
 			if(typeof(ribbon) == typeof(true)){
 				flatten = ribbon
 				ribbon = null
@@ -929,6 +930,9 @@ module.CropActions = actions.Actions({
 		}],
 	cropRibbonAndAbove: ['Crop/Crop out ribbons bellow',
 		function(ribbon, flatten){
+			if(this.data.length == 0){
+				return
+			}
 			if(typeof(ribbon) == typeof(true)){
 				flatten = ribbon
 				ribbon = null
@@ -955,6 +959,9 @@ module.CropActions = actions.Actions({
 	// XXX should this be here???
 	cropTagged: ['Tag|Crop/Crop tagged images',
 		function(tags, mode, flatten){
+			if(this.data.length == 0){
+				return
+			}
 			var selector = mode == 'any' ? 'getTaggedByAny' : 'getTaggedByAll'
 			this.crop(this.data[selector](tags), flatten)
 		}],
diff --git a/ui (gen4)/features/core.js b/ui (gen4)/features/core.js
index 86a83581..274ab2b3 100755
--- a/ui (gen4)/features/core.js	
+++ b/ui (gen4)/features/core.js	
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@ function(attr, states, a, b){
 var ImageGridMetaActions =
 module.ImageGridMetaActions = {
 	// XXX experimental...
-	get data(){ return this.__data || data.Data() },
+	get data(){ 
+		var d = this.__data = this.__data || data.Data() 
+		return d 
+	},
 	set data(value){ this.__data = value },
 
 	// Test if the action is a Toggler...
diff --git a/ui (gen4)/features/ui-widgets.js b/ui (gen4)/features/ui-widgets.js
index b9b61781..305893ee 100755
--- a/ui (gen4)/features/ui-widgets.js	
+++ b/ui (gen4)/features/ui-widgets.js	
@@ -1203,14 +1203,15 @@ module.Buttons = core.ImageGridFeatures.Feature({
 				this.toggleSecondaryButtons(this.config['secondary-buttons-state'] || 'on')
 				this.toggleSideButtons(this.config['side-buttons-state'] || 'on')
 		   	}],
-		['load reload', 
+
+		// update crop button status...
+		['load clear reload', 
 			function(){
-				// update crop button status...
 				$('.main-buttons.buttons .crop.button sub')
 					.text(this.crop_stack ? this.crop_stack.length : '') }],
+		// update zoom button status...
 		['setScale', 
 			function(){
-				// update crop button status...
 				$('.secondary-buttons.buttons .zoom.button sub')
 					.text(Math.round(this.screenwidth)) }],
 	],