diff --git a/argv.go b/argv.go
index 68c591e..62f7aec 100644
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ type args struct {
 	GitFetch   *FindCmd     `arg:"subcommand:fetch"                     help:"run 'git fetch master'"`
 	List       *FindCmd     `arg:"subcommand:list"                      help:"print a table of the current repos"`
 	Merge      *MergeCmd    `arg:"subcommand:merge"                     help:"merge branches"`
-	Normal     *EmptyCmd    `arg:"subcommand:normal"                    help:"set every repo to the default state for software development"`
+	Normal     *NormalCmd   `arg:"subcommand:normal"                    help:"set every repo to the default state for software development"`
 	Patch      *PatchCmd    `arg:"subcommand:patch"                     help:"make patchsets"`
 	Pull       *PullCmd     `arg:"subcommand:pull"                      help:"run 'git pull'"`
 	URL        string       `arg:"--connect"                            help:"forge url"`
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ type args struct {
 type EmptyCmd struct {
 }
 
+type NormalCmd struct {
+	On  *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:on"        help:"turn normal mode on"`
+	Off *EmptyCmd `arg:"subcommand:off"        help:"turn normal mode off"`
+}
+
 type CommitCmd struct {
 	Submit bool `arg:"--submit"    default:"true"     help:"submit the patches to forge"`
 }
diff --git a/argvAutoshell.go b/argvAutoshell.go
index 42e958e..826837b 100644
--- a/argvAutoshell.go
+++ b/argvAutoshell.go
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ func (args) doBashAuto() {
 		fmt.Println("--full")
 	case "merge":
 		fmt.Println("devel master")
+	case "normal":
+		fmt.Println("on off")
 	case "pull":
 		fmt.Println("dirty clean list patches --force")
 	case "patch":
diff --git a/doFind.go b/doFind.go
index b100ecd..6aaaeb2 100644
--- a/doFind.go
+++ b/doFind.go
@@ -170,6 +170,14 @@ func findReposWithPatches() *gitpb.Repos {
 
 		// show anything that differs between 'devel' & 'master' branches
 		if repo.GetDevelVersion() != repo.GetMasterVersion() {
+			// this repo.State code isn't great, but it got me here quickly
+			// I'll defend my code by saying it's faster for me if I do dumb things
+			// sometimes and fix them later. Probably some employee will have to
+			// fix this. if that is the case I owe you lunch. or stock options
+			if repo.State == "DEVEL behind MASTER" {
+				// log.Info("repo state", repo.FullPath, repo.State)
+				continue
+			}
 			found.AppendByFullPath(repo)
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 7aa68c1..8a8f2c4 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -140,6 +140,27 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if argv.Normal != nil {
+		if argv.Normal.On != nil {
+			if me.forge.Config.Mode == forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
+				log.Info("you are already in the normal state")
+				okExit("")
+			}
+			me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL
+			me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
+			log.Info("normal mode on")
+			okExit("")
+		}
+		if argv.Normal.Off != nil {
+			if me.forge.Config.Mode != forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {
+				log.Info("you were aleady not in the normal state")
+				okExit("")
+			}
+			me.forge.Config.Mode = forgepb.ForgeMode_MASTER
+			me.forge.Config.ConfigSave()
+			log.Info("normal mode off")
+			okExit("")
+		}
+
 		if doNormal() {
 			log.Infof("all %d repos are on your user branch. It is safe to write code now.\n", me.forge.Repos.Len())
 			if me.forge.Config.Mode != forgepb.ForgeMode_NORMAL {