diff --git a/wled00/json.cpp b/wled00/json.cpp
index ad88d828a..159fd21f3 100644
--- a/wled00/json.cpp
+++ b/wled00/json.cpp
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ void serializeState(JsonObject root, bool forPreset, bool includeBri, bool segme
   if (!forPreset) {
     if (errorFlag) root[F("error")] = errorFlag;
 
-    root[F("ps")] = currentPreset;
+    root[F("ps")] = (currentPreset > 0) ? currentPreset : -1;
     root[F("pl")] = currentPlaylist;
 
     usermods.addToJsonState(root);
diff --git a/wled00/led.cpp b/wled00/led.cpp
index caab98b58..69371e211 100644
--- a/wled00/led.cpp
+++ b/wled00/led.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void colorUpdated(int callMode)
   {
     effectChanged = false;
     if (realtimeTimeout == UINT32_MAX) realtimeTimeout = 0;
-    currentPreset = -1; //something changed, so we are no longer in the preset
+    currentPreset = 0; //something changed, so we are no longer in the preset
         
     notify(callMode);
     
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index d1a149410..c5eeb0613 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ WLED_GLOBAL JsonDocument* fileDoc;
 WLED_GLOBAL bool doCloseFile _INIT(false);
 
 // presets
-WLED_GLOBAL int16_t currentPreset _INIT(-1);
+WLED_GLOBAL byte currentPreset _INIT(0);
 
 WLED_GLOBAL byte errorFlag _INIT(0);
 
diff --git a/wled00/xml.cpp b/wled00/xml.cpp
index 95e56d4dd..b682cdd35 100644
--- a/wled00/xml.cpp
+++ b/wled00/xml.cpp
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ void XML_response(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, char* dest)
   oappend(SET_F("</wv><ws>"));
   oappendi(colSec[3]);
   oappend(SET_F("</ws><ps>"));
-  oappendi((currentPreset < 1) ? 0:currentPreset);
+  oappendi(currentPreset);
   oappend(SET_F("</ps><cy>"));
-  oappendi(currentPlaylist > 0);
+  oappendi(currentPlaylist >= 0);
   oappend(SET_F("</cy><ds>"));
   oappend(serverDescription);
   if (realtimeMode)