         if (json.success()) {
           // don't update hardware, reconnect mqtt. this step happens before setup of the other systems
           apply_json_status(json, false);
-          readStatusObject = true;
           Serial.println("\nparsed json");
         } else {
           Serial.println("failed to load json config");

void apply_json_status(JsonObject& root, bool applyAndSave = true);

void setup_status() {
  bool readStatusObject = false;
  if (SPIFFS.begin()) {
    Serial.println("mounted file system");
    if (SPIFFS.exists("/status.json")) {

    }
  } else {
    Serial.println("failed to mount FS");
  }
}

