diff --git a/colorNew.go b/colorNew.go
index f537c5c..76dcab6 100644
--- a/colorNew.go
+++ b/colorNew.go
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) restoreEnableColor() {
 // DONE ON DISABLE() WIDGET
 // makes the button look disabled
 func (tk *guiWidget) setColorDisable() {
+	if tk.color == nil {
+		tk.color = new(colorT)
+	}
 	// save the current color
 	tk.color.frame = superLightGrey
 	tk.color.fg = gocui.ColorBlack
diff --git a/plugin.go b/plugin.go
index 2cec989..5660e65 100644
--- a/plugin.go
+++ b/plugin.go
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ func newAdd(n *tree.Node) {
 			w = n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 		}
 	*/
-	// w.setColor(&colorDisabled)
 	w := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
 	w.Show()
 }
@@ -115,15 +114,9 @@ func newaction(n *tree.Node, atype widget.ActionType) {
 		log.Log(NOW, "attempting to close the plugin and release stdout and stderr")
 		standardClose()
 	case widget.Enable:
-		w.enable = true
-		w.node.State.Enable = true
-		w.restoreEnableColor()
-		log.Info("enable widget in gocui", atype, n.WidgetType, n.ProgName())
+		w.Enable()
 	case widget.Disable:
-		w.enable = false
-		w.node.State.Enable = false
-		w.setColorDisable()
-		log.Info("disable widget in gocui", atype, n.WidgetType, n.ProgName())
+		w.Disable()
 	case widget.Delete:
 		if w == nil {
 			return
@@ -218,3 +211,37 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) GetText() string {
 	}
 	return ""
 }
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) Disable() {
+	if tk == nil {
+		log.Log(NOW, "widget is nil")
+		return
+	}
+	tk.enable = false
+	tk.node.State.Enable = false
+	log.Info("disable widget in gocui", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.node.ProgName())
+	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	case widget.Button:
+		tk.setColorDisable()
+		return
+	default:
+		log.Log(INFO, "don't know how to disable", tk.node.WidgetId, "w.name", tk.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func (tk *guiWidget) Enable() {
+	if tk == nil {
+		log.Log(NOW, "widget is nil")
+		return
+	}
+	tk.enable = true
+	tk.node.State.Enable = true
+	log.Info("disable widget in gocui", tk.node.WidgetType, tk.node.ProgName())
+	switch tk.node.WidgetType {
+	case widget.Button:
+		tk.restoreEnableColor()
+		return
+	default:
+		log.Log(INFO, "don't know how to disable", tk.node.WidgetId, "w.name", tk.String())
+	}
+}