diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index c059916..4ebe71e 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ presets.load(settings)
 presets.b = settings.get("brightness", 255)
 # Use the default preset name from settings (set via controller or defaults)
 default_preset = settings.get("default")
-if default_preset:
+if (
+    isinstance(default_preset, str)
+    and default_preset
+    and default_preset in presets.presets
+):
     presets.select(default_preset)
     print(f"Selected startup preset: {default_preset}")
 
@@ -35,9 +39,14 @@ while True:
     wdt.feed()
     presets.tick()
     if e.any():
-        host, msg = e.recv()
-        print(msg)
-        data = json.loads(msg)
+        try:
+            host, msg = e.recv()
+            data = json.loads(msg)
+            print(msg)
+        except (ValueError, TypeError):
+            continue
+        if not isinstance(data, dict):
+            continue
         # Only handle messages with the expected version.
         if data.get("v") != "1":
             continue
@@ -53,23 +62,60 @@ while True:
                     last_brightness_save = now
             except (TypeError, ValueError):
                 pass
-        if "presets" in data:
+        if isinstance(data.get("presets"), dict):
             for id, preset_data in data["presets"].items():
-                # Convert hex color strings to RGB tuples and reorder based on device color order
-                if "c" in preset_data:
-                    preset_data["c"] = convert_and_reorder_colors(preset_data["c"], settings)
+                if not isinstance(preset_data, dict):
+                    continue
+                # Convert hex color strings to RGB tuples and reorder based on device colour order.
+                color_key = "c" if "c" in preset_data else ("colors" if "colors" in preset_data else None)
+                if color_key is not None:
+                    try:
+                        preset_data[color_key] = convert_and_reorder_colors(
+                            preset_data[color_key], settings
+                        )
+                    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                        continue
                 presets.edit(id, preset_data)
                 print(f"Edited preset {id}: {preset_data.get('name', '')}")
-        if settings.get("name") in data.get("select", {}):
+        if isinstance(data.get("select"), dict) and settings.get("name") in data["select"]:
             select_list = data["select"][settings.get("name")]
             # Select value is always a list: ["preset_name"] or ["preset_name", step]
-            if select_list:
+            if isinstance(select_list, list) and select_list:
                 preset_name = select_list[0]
                 step = select_list[1] if len(select_list) > 1 else None
-                presets.select(preset_name, step=step)
+                if isinstance(preset_name, str):
+                    presets.select(preset_name, step=step)
         if "default" in data:
-            settings["default"] = data["default"]
-            print(f"Set startup preset to: {data['default']}")
-            settings.save()
+            default_name = data["default"]
+            this_device_name = settings.get("name")
+            this_device_name_norm = (
+                this_device_name.strip().lower()
+                if isinstance(this_device_name, str)
+                else None
+            )
+            should_apply_default = True
+            if "targets" in data:
+                # When targets are present, default must only apply to named targets.
+                should_apply_default = False
+                targets = data.get("targets")
+                if isinstance(targets, list) and this_device_name_norm:
+                    normalized_targets = [
+                        target.strip().lower()
+                        for target in targets
+                        if isinstance(target, str) and target.strip()
+                    ]
+                    should_apply_default = this_device_name_norm in normalized_targets
+                if not should_apply_default:
+                    print("Ignored default: device not in targets")
+            if (
+                should_apply_default
+                and
+                isinstance(default_name, str)
+                and default_name
+                and default_name in presets.presets
+            ):
+                settings["default"] = default_name
+                print(f"Set startup preset to: {default_name}")
+                settings.save()
         if "save" in data:
             presets.save()
diff --git a/src/presets.py b/src/presets.py
index 56ce690..c5163dd 100644
--- a/src/presets.py
+++ b/src/presets.py
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ class Presets:
         order = settings if settings is not None else "rgb"
         self.presets = {}
         for name, preset_data in data.items():
-            if "c" in preset_data:
-                preset_data["c"] = convert_and_reorder_colors(
-                    preset_data["c"], order
+            color_key = "c" if "c" in preset_data else ("colors" if "colors" in preset_data else None)
+            if color_key is not None:
+                preset_data[color_key] = convert_and_reorder_colors(
+                    preset_data[color_key], order
                 )
             self.presets[name] = Preset(preset_data)
         if self.presets:
@@ -89,6 +90,9 @@ class Presets:
             next(self.generator)
         except StopIteration:
             self.generator = None
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error in tick: {e}")
+            self.generator = None
 
     def select(self, preset_name, step=None):
         # Auto-create simple built-in presets for common names on first use