diff --git a/cmdline.py b/cmdline.py
index 1945df7..d5aa6b4 100644
--- a/cmdline.py
+++ b/cmdline.py
@@ -60,22 +60,22 @@ def local_command(cmd: str) -> str:
             import effects_plugins
             from engine.effects.registry import get_registry
             from engine.effects.chain import EffectChain
+            from engine.effects.controller import set_effect_chain_ref
 
             effects_plugins.discover_plugins()
             registry = get_registry()
             chain = EffectChain(registry)
             chain.set_order(["noise", "fade", "glitch", "firehose"])
 
-            from engine.layers import _effect_chain
-
-            global _effect_chain_ref
-            _effect_chain_ref = chain
+            set_effect_chain_ref(chain)
 
             from engine.effects.controller import handle_effects_command
 
             return handle_effects_command(cmd)
+        except ImportError as e:
+            return f"Error: {e}\n(Try: pip install Pillow)"
         except Exception as e:
-            return f"Error: {type(e).__name__}: {e}\n(Effects require PIL - run with --send or run mainline first)"
+            return f"Error: {type(e).__name__}: {e}"
     if cmd == "/help":
         return AVAILABLE_COMMANDS
     if cmd == "/quit" or cmd == "/exit":
diff --git a/engine/effects/controller.py b/engine/effects/controller.py
index 2c79bd2..eb547d5 100644
--- a/engine/effects/controller.py
+++ b/engine/effects/controller.py
@@ -1,11 +1,24 @@
 from engine.effects.performance import get_monitor
 from engine.effects.registry import get_registry
 
+_effect_chain_ref = None
+
 
 def _get_effect_chain():
-    from engine.layers import get_effect_chain as _chain
+    global _effect_chain_ref
+    if _effect_chain_ref is not None:
+        return _effect_chain_ref
+    try:
+        from engine.layers import get_effect_chain as _chain
 
-    return _chain()
+        return _chain()
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
+
+def set_effect_chain_ref(chain) -> None:
+    global _effect_chain_ref
+    _effect_chain_ref = chain
 
 
 def handle_effects_command(cmd: str) -> str: