diff --git a/build.properties b/build.properties
index efc24be..ff9ac07 100644
--- a/build.properties
+++ b/build.properties
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-strongback.version=1.2.0-Beta3
+strongback.version=1.2.0-Beta4
 #
 # The build will download a specific version of the WPILib given by the following URL
 # and install it into the 'libs/wpilib' folder. To use a different version of WPILib,
diff --git a/strongback/src/org/strongback/Strongback.java b/strongback/src/org/strongback/Strongback.java
index b64fb9f..5a9e578 100644
--- a/strongback/src/org/strongback/Strongback.java
+++ b/strongback/src/org/strongback/Strongback.java
@@ -1274,7 +1274,7 @@ public boolean isRunning() {
         }
 
         public synchronized void pause() {
-            if (running.get()) {
+            if (isRunning()) {
                 executor.stop();
             }
         }
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ protected boolean doStart() {
          *         the engine could not be started
          */
         public synchronized boolean start() {
-            if (running.get()) {
+            if (isRunning()) {
                 // Already running, so just kill any remaining commands ...
                 scheduler.killAll();
                 executorDelayCounter.set(0);
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ public synchronized boolean start() {
 
         public synchronized boolean submit(Command command) {
             if (command != null) {
-                if (!running.get()) {
+                if (!isRunning()) {
                     logger.warn("Strongback is not currently running, so the command " + command
                             + " will begin running when Strongback is started.");
                     return false;
@@ -1368,12 +1368,14 @@ public synchronized boolean submit(Command command) {
         }
 
         public synchronized void flushRecorders() {
-            // Finally flush the data recorder ...
-            dataRecorderDriver.flush();
+            if (isRunning()) {
+                // Finally flush the data recorder ...
+                dataRecorderDriver.flush();
+            }
         }
 
         public synchronized void killCommandsAndFlush() {
-            if (running.get()) {
+            if (isRunning()) {
                 try {
                     // Kill any remaining commands ...
                     scheduler.killAll();
diff --git a/strongback/src/org/strongback/hardware/Hardware.java b/strongback/src/org/strongback/hardware/Hardware.java
index 9a36502..e18babf 100644
--- a/strongback/src/org/strongback/hardware/Hardware.java
+++ b/strongback/src/org/strongback/hardware/Hardware.java
@@ -335,12 +335,14 @@ public static enum AnalogOption {
              * use of this filter is to reject data points which errantly (due to averaging or sampling) appear within the
              * window when detecting transitions using the Rising Edge and Falling Edge functionality of the analog trigger
              */
-            FILTERED, /**
-                       * The analog output is averaged and over sampled.
-                       */
-            AVERAGED, /**
-                       * No filtering or averaging is to be used.
-                       */
+            FILTERED,
+            /**
+             * The analog output is averaged and over sampled.
+             */
+            AVERAGED,
+            /**
+             * No filtering or averaging is to be used.
+             */
             NONE;
         }
 
@@ -354,10 +356,11 @@ public static enum TriggerMode {
              * The switch is triggered only when the analog value is inside the range, and not triggered if it is outside (above
              * or below)
              */
-            IN_WINDOW, /**
-                        * The switch is triggered only when the value is above the upper limit, and not triggered if it is below
-                        * the lower limit and maintains the previous state if in between (hysteresis)
-                        */
+            IN_WINDOW,
+            /**
+             * The switch is triggered only when the value is above the upper limit, and not triggered if it is below the lower
+             * limit and maintains the previous state if in between (hysteresis)
+             */
             AVERAGED;
         }
 
@@ -764,6 +767,10 @@ public static Relay relay(int channel) {
 
     public static final class HumanInterfaceDevices {
 
+        private static void verifyJoystickConnected(Joystick joystick) {
+            joystick.getButtonCount();
+        }
+
         /**
          * Create an generic input device controlled by the Driver Station.
          *
@@ -772,6 +779,7 @@ public static final class HumanInterfaceDevices {
          */
         public static InputDevice driverStationJoystick(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return InputDevice.create(joystick::getRawAxis, joystick::getRawButton, joystick::getPOV);
         }
 
@@ -783,6 +791,7 @@ public static InputDevice driverStationJoystick(int port) {
          */
         public static FlightStick logitechAttack3D(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return FlightStick.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                       joystick::getRawButton,
                                       joystick::getPOV,
@@ -802,6 +811,7 @@ public static FlightStick logitechAttack3D(int port) {
          */
         public static FlightStick logitechExtreme3D(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return FlightStick.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                       joystick::getRawButton,
                                       joystick::getPOV,
@@ -821,6 +831,7 @@ public static FlightStick logitechExtreme3D(int port) {
          */
         public static FlightStick microsoftSideWinder(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return FlightStick.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                       joystick::getRawButton,
                                       joystick::getPOV,
@@ -840,6 +851,7 @@ public static FlightStick microsoftSideWinder(int port) {
          */
         public static Gamepad logitechDualAction(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return Gamepad.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                   joystick::getRawButton,
                                   joystick::getPOV,
@@ -869,6 +881,7 @@ public static Gamepad logitechDualAction(int port) {
          */
         public static Gamepad logitechF310(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return Gamepad.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                   joystick::getRawButton,
                                   joystick::getPOV,
@@ -889,7 +902,7 @@ public static Gamepad logitechF310(int port) {
                                   () -> joystick.getRawButton(8),
                                   () -> joystick.getRawButton(9));
         }
-        
+
         /**
          * Create a Microsoft Xbox360 gamepad controlled by the Driver Station.
          *
@@ -898,6 +911,7 @@ public static Gamepad logitechF310(int port) {
          */
         public static Gamepad xbox360(int port) {
             Joystick joystick = new Joystick(port);
+            verifyJoystickConnected(joystick);
             return Gamepad.create(joystick::getRawAxis,
                                   joystick::getRawButton,
                                   joystick::getPOV,