diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.cpp b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.cpp
index 7bc534895..6c0f5480b 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.cpp
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.cpp
@@ -525,6 +525,12 @@ AutoStory::AutoStory()
         LockMode::UNLOCK_WHILE_RUNNING,
         true
     )
+    , ENSURE_MINIMAP_UNLOCKED(
+        "<b>Pre-check: Ensure the minimap is unlocked:</b><br>"
+        "This is to ensure the minimap is unlocked. We use it to detect our direction.",
+        LockMode::UNLOCK_WHILE_RUNNING,
+        true
+    )
     , GO_HOME_WHEN_DONE(true)
     , NOTIFICATION_STATUS_UPDATE("Status Update", true, false, std::chrono::seconds(30))
     , NOTIFICATIONS({
@@ -764,6 +770,7 @@ AutoStory::AutoStory()
     PA_ADD_OPTION(CHANGE_SETTINGS);
     PA_ADD_OPTION(ENSURE_TIME_UNSYNCED);
     PA_ADD_OPTION(ENSURE_CORRECT_MOVES);
+    PA_ADD_OPTION(ENSURE_MINIMAP_UNLOCKED);
     
     PA_ADD_OPTION(NOTIFICATIONS);
 
@@ -1316,6 +1323,11 @@ void AutoStory::program(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContex
         confirm_lead_pokemon_moves(env, context, LANGUAGE);
     }
 
+    if (ENSURE_MINIMAP_UNLOCKED && STORY_SECTION == StorySection::MAIN_STORY){
+        env.console.log("Ensure the minimap is unlocked.");
+        confirm_minimap_unlocked(env, context);
+    }
+
     run_autostory(env, context);
     
     send_program_finished_notification(env, NOTIFICATION_PROGRAM_FINISH);
diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.h b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.h
index 3f9709d11..e81776fcf 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.h
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory.h
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class AutoStory : public SingleSwitchProgramInstance, public ConfigOption::Liste
     BooleanCheckBoxOption CHANGE_SETTINGS;    
     BooleanCheckBoxOption ENSURE_TIME_UNSYNCED;
     BooleanCheckBoxOption ENSURE_CORRECT_MOVES;
+    BooleanCheckBoxOption ENSURE_MINIMAP_UNLOCKED;
 
     GoHomeWhenDoneOption GO_HOME_WHEN_DONE;
 
diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.cpp b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.cpp
index 8d88d7b82..01fb204b2 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.cpp
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.cpp
@@ -551,6 +551,22 @@ void confirm_lead_pokemon_moves(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControll
 
 }
 
+void confirm_minimap_unlocked(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& context){
+    DirectionDetector direction;
+    try{
+        direction.change_direction(env.program_info(), env.console, context, 3.02);
+        pbf_press_button(context, BUTTON_L, 200ms, 200ms);
+    }catch(OperationFailedException&){
+        OperationFailedException::fire(
+            ErrorReport::SEND_ERROR_REPORT,
+            "confirm_minimap_unlocked(): Unable to confirm that the minimap is unlocked. Likely because the direction cannot be detected. "
+            "If you manually confirm that the minimap is unlocked, you can disable this precheck in the program setting \"Pre-check: Ensure the minimap is unlocked\".",
+            env.console
+        );
+    }
+
+}
+
 void change_settings_prior_to_autostory_segment_mode(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& context, size_t current_segment_num, Language language){
     // get index of `Options` in the Main Menu, which depends on where you are in Autostory
     int8_t options_index;  
@@ -814,8 +830,10 @@ void do_action_and_monitor_for_battles_early(
         {no_minimap}
     );
     if (ret == 0){  // if see no minimap. stop and see if we detect a battle. if so, throw Battl exception
+        stream.log("do_action_and_monitor_for_battles_early: Detected no mini-map. Possibly caught in a battle.");
         do_action_and_monitor_for_battles(info, stream, context,
         [&](const ProgramInfo& info, VideoStream& stream, ProControllerContext& context){
+            // wait 30 seconds to see if we detect a battle. If so, this throws an UnexpectedBattleException.
             pbf_wait(context, Seconds(30));
         });
 
diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.h b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.h
index 05598bec1..0a565447d 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.h
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStoryTools.h
@@ -185,6 +185,8 @@ void swap_starter_moves(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContex
 // start and end in the overworld
 void confirm_lead_pokemon_moves(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& context, Language language);
 
+void confirm_minimap_unlocked(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& context);
+
 // run the given `action`. if detect a battle, stop the action, and throw exception
 void do_action_and_monitor_for_battles(
     const ProgramInfo& info, 
diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_28.cpp b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_28.cpp
index fa406c027..2b89bb7cb 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_28.cpp
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_28.cpp
@@ -307,7 +307,9 @@ void checkpoint_70(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& co
     [&](size_t attempt_number){
         context.wait_for_all_requests();
         // fly back to North Province Area Three
-        move_cursor_towards_flypoint_and_go_there(env.program_info(), env.console, context, {ZoomChange::KEEP_ZOOM, -1, +1, 0ms}, FlyPoint::POKECENTER);
+        // fly_to_overworld_from_map() may fail since the snowy background on the map will false positive the destinationMenuItemWatcher (MapDestinationMenuDetector at box {0.523000, 0.680000, 0.080000, 0.010000}), which causes the fly to fail
+        // we can get around this by either placing down a marker, or by zooming out so that that section isn't white snow.
+        move_cursor_towards_flypoint_and_go_there(env.program_info(), env.console, context, {ZoomChange::ZOOM_OUT, -1, +1, 0ms}, FlyPoint::POKECENTER);
 
         // fly back to Glaseado Mountain Pokecenter
         // this clears Pokemon in minimap
diff --git a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_30.cpp b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_30.cpp
index f88a94ae1..de8c497c5 100644
--- a/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_30.cpp
+++ b/SerialPrograms/Source/PokemonSV/Programs/AutoStory/PokemonSV_AutoStory_Segment_30.cpp
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ void checkpoint_76(SingleSwitchProgramEnvironment& env, ProControllerContext& co
         // pokemon are cleared from minimap after the Snow Slope run
 
         // fly back to Glaseado Gym Pokecenter
+        // the problem with the snowy background is still there. but the marker placed previously is also still there
         move_cursor_towards_flypoint_and_go_there(env.program_info(), env.console, context, {ZoomChange::ZOOM_IN, -1, +1, 0ms}, FlyPoint::POKECENTER);