diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/GameUIController.cs b/Assets/Scripts/GameUIController.cs
index 442d892..76a87b1 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/GameUIController.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/GameUIController.cs
@@ -18,12 +18,16 @@ public class GameUIController : MonoBehaviour
     private StateController stateController;
 
     void Start() {
+        stateController = GameObject.FindGameObjectWithTag("StateController").GetComponent<StateController>();
+        if (stateController == null) {
+            print("state controller not found");
+        } else {
+            print("yeehaw");
+        }
         trumpetUI = trumpetBackground.transform.GetChild(0).gameObject;
         tambourineUI = tambourineBackground.transform.GetChild(0).gameObject;
         clarinetUI = clarinetBackground.transform.GetChild(0).gameObject;
 
-        stateController = GameObject.FindGameObjectWithTag("StateController").GetComponent<StateController>();
-
         if (!stateController.unlockedTrumpet) {
             trumpetBackground.SetActive(false);
         }
@@ -57,6 +61,9 @@ public class GameUIController : MonoBehaviour
     }
 
     public void ResetInstrumentUI() {
+        if (stateController == null) {
+            print("state controller null");
+        }
         if (stateController.unlockedTrumpet) {
             ToggleTrumpet(true);
         }
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/PlayerBehavior.cs b/Assets/Scripts/PlayerBehavior.cs
index c402f27..261c631 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/PlayerBehavior.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/PlayerBehavior.cs
@@ -37,13 +37,12 @@ public class PlayerBehavior : MonoBehaviour
     AudioSource audioSource;
     
 
-    void Start()
+    void Awake()
     {  // initialize
         _rb = GetComponent<Rigidbody2D>();
         stateController = GameObject.Find("StateController").GetComponent<StateController>();
 
         gameUI = GameObject.FindGameObjectWithTag("GameUICanvas").GetComponent<GameUIController>();
-        gameUI.ResetInstrumentUI();
 
         audioSource = this.gameObject.GetComponent<AudioSource>();
         audioSource.clip = footstepSound;
@@ -54,6 +53,10 @@ public class PlayerBehavior : MonoBehaviour
         playerIsAlive = true;
     }
 
+    void Start() {
+        gameUI.ResetInstrumentUI();
+    }
+
     void Update()
     {
         unlockedTambourine = stateController.unlockedTambourine;