diff --git a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
index 573bd6f962..478db2375c 100644
--- a/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/car_helpers.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 from common.params import Params
 from common.basedir import BASEDIR
+from selfdrive.version import comma_remote, tested_branch
 from selfdrive.car.fingerprints import eliminate_incompatible_cars, all_known_cars
 from selfdrive.car.vin import get_vin, VIN_UNKNOWN
 from selfdrive.car.fw_versions import get_fw_versions, match_fw_to_car
@@ -13,11 +14,12 @@ EventName = car.CarEvent.EventName
 HwType = log.HealthData.HwType
 
 
-def get_startup_event(car_recognized, controller_available, hw_type):
-  event = EventName.startup
-  if Params().get("GitRemote", encoding="utf8") in ['git@github.com:commaai/openpilot.git', 'https://github.com/commaai/openpilot.git']:
-    if Params().get("GitBranch", encoding="utf8") not in ['devel', 'release2-staging', 'dashcam-staging', 'release2', 'dashcam']:
-      event = EventName.startupMaster
+def get_startup_event(car_recognized, controller_available):
+  if comma_remote and tested_branch:
+    event = EventName.startup
+  else:
+    event = EventName.startupMaster
+
   if not car_recognized:
     event = EventName.startupNoCar
   elif car_recognized and not controller_available:
diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py b/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
index 37b7e802d6..fed3f1d088 100755
--- a/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class Controls:
     self.saturated_count = 0
     self.distance_traveled = 0
     self.events_prev = []
-    self.current_alert_types = []
+    self.current_alert_types = [ET.PERMANENT]
 
     self.sm['liveCalibration'].calStatus = Calibration.INVALID
     self.sm['thermal'].freeSpace = 1.
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class Controls:
     self.sm['dMonitoringState'].awarenessStatus = 1.
     self.sm['dMonitoringState'].faceDetected = False
 
-    self.startup_event = get_startup_event(car_recognized, controller_available, hw_type)
+    self.startup_event = get_startup_event(car_recognized, controller_available)
 
     if not sounds_available:
       self.events.add(EventName.soundsUnavailable, static=True)
diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/lib/events.py b/selfdrive/controls/lib/events.py
index 079c79e72b..6fd2aaa0e2 100644
--- a/selfdrive/controls/lib/events.py
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/lib/events.py
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ EVENTS = {
       "Dashcam Mode",
       "Car Unrecognized",
       AlertStatus.normal, AlertSize.mid,
-      Priority.LOWER, VisualAlert.none, AudibleAlert.none, 0., 0., .2),
+      Priority.LOWEST, VisualAlert.none, AudibleAlert.none, 0., 0., .2),
   },
 
   EventName.stockAeb: {
diff --git a/selfdrive/test/process_replay/ref_commit b/selfdrive/test/process_replay/ref_commit
index 3423ee6519..be6523e27b 100644
--- a/selfdrive/test/process_replay/ref_commit
+++ b/selfdrive/test/process_replay/ref_commit
@@ -1 +1 @@
-fe829cbe7ff161f098f680f3bfe3b8daeba2f220
\ No newline at end of file
+a8b50cfc06473f66896b3f74a562263d3cccec36
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/selfdrive/version.py b/selfdrive/version.py
index 13a16022ac..02416a90a0 100644
--- a/selfdrive/version.py
+++ b/selfdrive/version.py
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ training_version = b"0.2.0"
 terms_version = b"2"
 
 dirty = True
+comma_remote = False
+tested_branch = False
 origin = get_git_remote()
 branch = get_git_full_branchname()
 
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ try:
 
   if (origin is not None) and (branch is not None):
     comma_remote = origin.startswith('git@github.com:commaai') or origin.startswith('https://github.com/commaai')
+    tested_branch = branch in ['devel', 'release2-staging', 'dashcam-staging', 'release2', 'dashcam']
 
     dirty = not comma_remote
     dirty = dirty or ('master' in branch)