diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/prime.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/prime.cc
index 90558014f0..782b7cb5ce 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/prime.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/widgets/prime.cc
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ PairingQRWidget::PairingQRWidget(QWidget* parent) : QWidget(parent) {
 void PairingQRWidget::showEvent(QShowEvent *event) {
   refresh();
   timer->start(5 * 60 * 1000);
+  device()->setOffroadBrightness(100);
 }
 
 void PairingQRWidget::hideEvent(QHideEvent *event) {
   timer->stop();
+  device()->setOffroadBrightness(BACKLIGHT_OFFROAD);
 }
 
 void PairingQRWidget::refresh() {
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc b/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
index f978df852d..95be0e3ed9 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/ui.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 
 #define BACKLIGHT_DT 0.05
 #define BACKLIGHT_TS 10.00
-#define BACKLIGHT_OFFROAD 50
 
 // Projects a point in car to space to the corresponding point in full frame
 // image space.
@@ -299,7 +298,7 @@ void Device::resetInteractiveTimeout() {
 }
 
 void Device::updateBrightness(const UIState &s) {
-  float clipped_brightness = BACKLIGHT_OFFROAD;
+  float clipped_brightness = offroad_brightness;
   if (s.scene.started) {
     clipped_brightness = s.scene.light_sensor;
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/ui.h b/selfdrive/ui/ui.h
index a97ef35789..572065d961 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/ui.h
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/ui.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const int UI_BORDER_SIZE = 30;
 const int UI_HEADER_HEIGHT = 420;
 
 const int UI_FREQ = 20; // Hz
+const int BACKLIGHT_OFFROAD = 50;
 typedef cereal::CarControl::HUDControl::AudibleAlert AudibleAlert;
 
 const mat3 DEFAULT_CALIBRATION = {{ 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0 }};
@@ -188,11 +189,16 @@ class Device : public QObject {
 public:
   Device(QObject *parent = 0);
   bool isAwake() { return awake; }
+  void setOffroadBrightness(int brightness) {
+    offroad_brightness = std::clamp(brightness, 0, 100);
+  }
 
 private:
   bool awake = false;
   int interactive_timeout = 0;
   bool ignition_on = false;
+
+  int offroad_brightness = BACKLIGHT_OFFROAD;
   int last_brightness = 0;
   FirstOrderFilter brightness_filter;
   QFuture<void> brightness_future;