diff --git a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
index 175b769b6..d4a1345bb 100644
--- a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
@@ -1092,16 +1092,17 @@ void WS2812FX::deserializeMap(uint8_t n) {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   DEBUG_PRINT(F("Reading LED map from "));
   DEBUG_PRINTLN(fileName);
 
   if (!readObjectFromFile(fileName, nullptr, &doc)) {
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
     return; //if file does not exist just exit
   }
 
@@ -1121,7 +1122,7 @@ void WS2812FX::deserializeMap(uint8_t n) {
     }
   }
 
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 }
 
 //gamma 2.8 lookup table used for color correction
diff --git a/wled00/cfg.cpp b/wled00/cfg.cpp
index b831407be..5fda92073 100644
--- a/wled00/cfg.cpp
+++ b/wled00/cfg.cpp
@@ -410,12 +410,12 @@ bool deserializeConfig(JsonObject doc, bool fromFS) {
   DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Starting usermod config."));
   JsonObject usermods_settings = doc["um"];
   if (!usermods_settings.isNull()) {
-    needsSave = usermods.readFromConfig(usermods_settings);
+    needsSave = !usermods.readFromConfig(usermods_settings);
   }
 
   if (fromFS) return needsSave;
   doReboot = doc[F("rb")] | doReboot;
-  return (doc["sv"] | needsSave);
+  return (doc["sv"] | true);
 }
 
 void deserializeConfigFromFS() {
@@ -428,9 +428,10 @@ void deserializeConfigFromFS() {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Reading settings from /cfg.json..."));
@@ -438,14 +439,14 @@ void deserializeConfigFromFS() {
   success = readObjectFromFile("/cfg.json", nullptr, &doc);
   if (!success) { //if file does not exist, try reading from EEPROM
     deEEPSettings();
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
     return;
   }
 
   // NOTE: This routine deserializes *and* applies the configuration
   //       Therefore, must also initialize ethernet from this function
   bool needsSave = deserializeConfig(doc.as<JsonObject>(), true);
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 
   if (needsSave) serializeConfig(); // usermods required new prameters
 }
@@ -458,9 +459,10 @@ void serializeConfig() {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   JsonArray rev = doc.createNestedArray("rev");
@@ -768,7 +770,7 @@ void serializeConfig() {
   File f = WLED_FS.open("/cfg.json", "w");
   if (f) serializeJson(doc, f);
   f.close();
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 }
 
 //settings in /wsec.json, not accessible via webserver, for passwords and tokens
@@ -778,14 +780,15 @@ bool deserializeConfigSec() {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return false;
+  }
 #endif
 
   bool success = readObjectFromFile("/wsec.json", nullptr, &doc);
   if (!success) {
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -819,7 +822,7 @@ bool deserializeConfigSec() {
   CJSON(wifiLock, ota[F("lock-wifi")]);
   CJSON(aOtaEnabled, ota[F("aota")]);
 
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -829,9 +832,10 @@ void serializeConfigSec() {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   JsonObject nw = doc.createNestedObject("nw");
@@ -867,5 +871,5 @@ void serializeConfigSec() {
   File f = WLED_FS.open("/wsec.json", "w");
   if (f) serializeJson(doc, f);
   f.close();
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 }
diff --git a/wled00/fcn_declare.h b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
index b995f31e4..3edccb5f8 100644
--- a/wled00/fcn_declare.h
+++ b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ void sappends(char stype, const char* key, char* val);
 void prepareHostname(char* hostname);
 void _setRandomColor(bool _sec, bool fromButton);
 bool isAsterisksOnly(const char* str, byte maxLen);
+bool requestJSONBufferLock();
+void releaseJSONBufferLock();
 
 //wled_eeprom.cpp
 void applyMacro(byte index);
diff --git a/wled00/ir.cpp b/wled00/ir.cpp
index f5de7710e..0cdca96a3 100644
--- a/wled00/ir.cpp
+++ b/wled00/ir.cpp
@@ -575,12 +575,14 @@ void decodeIRJson(uint32_t code)
   JsonObject fdo;
   JsonObject jsonCmdObj;
 
+  DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("IR JSON buffer requested."));
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   sprintf_P(objKey, PSTR("\"0x%lX\":"), (unsigned long)code);
@@ -601,6 +603,9 @@ void decodeIRJson(uint32_t code)
   cmdStr = fdo["cmd"].as<String>();;
   jsonCmdObj = fdo["cmd"]; //object
 
+  // command is JSON object
+  //allow applyPreset() to reuse JSON buffer, or it would alloc. a second buffer and run out of mem.
+  //fileDoc = &doc; // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
   if (!cmdStr.isEmpty()) 
   {
     if (cmdStr.startsWith("!")) {
@@ -635,13 +640,10 @@ void decodeIRJson(uint32_t code)
     }
     colorUpdated(CALL_MODE_BUTTON);
   } else if (!jsonCmdObj.isNull()) {
-    // command is JSON object
-    //allow applyPreset() to reuse JSON buffer, or it would alloc. a second buffer and run out of mem.
-    fileDoc = &doc;
     deserializeState(jsonCmdObj, CALL_MODE_BUTTON);
-    fileDoc = nullptr;
   }
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  //fileDoc = nullptr;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 }
 
 void initIR()
diff --git a/wled00/json.cpp b/wled00/json.cpp
index c7defbe57..f130d4096 100644
--- a/wled00/json.cpp
+++ b/wled00/json.cpp
@@ -920,9 +920,10 @@ void serveJson(AsyncWebServerRequest* request)
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   AsyncJsonResponse* response = new AsyncJsonResponse(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear(); 
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
   AsyncJsonResponse *response = new AsyncJsonResponse(&doc);
 #endif
 
@@ -956,7 +957,7 @@ void serveJson(AsyncWebServerRequest* request)
 
   response->setLength();
   request->send(response);
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 }
 
 #define MAX_LIVE_LEDS 180
diff --git a/wled00/mqtt.cpp b/wled00/mqtt.cpp
index 78614f1c0..3b608df0c 100644
--- a/wled00/mqtt.cpp
+++ b/wled00/mqtt.cpp
@@ -90,26 +90,26 @@ void onMqttMessage(char* topic, char* payload, AsyncMqttClientMessageProperties
     colorFromDecOrHexString(col, (char*)payloadStr);
     colorUpdated(CALL_MODE_DIRECT_CHANGE);
   } else if (strcmp_P(topic, PSTR("/api")) == 0) {
-    if (payload[0] == '{') { //JSON API
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("MQTT JSON buffer requested."));
     #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
       DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
     #else
-      while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-      jsonBufferLock = true;
-      doc.clear();
+      if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+        DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+        return;
+      }
     #endif
-
+    if (payload[0] == '{') { //JSON API
       deserializeJson(doc, payloadStr);
-      fileDoc = &doc;
+      //fileDoc = &doc; // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
       deserializeState(doc.as<JsonObject>());
-      fileDoc = nullptr;
-
-      jsonBufferLock = false;
+      //fileDoc = nullptr;
     } else { //HTTP API
       String apireq = "win&";
       apireq += (char*)payloadStr;
       handleSet(nullptr, apireq);
     }
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
   } else if (strlen(topic) != 0) {
     // non standard topic, check with usermods
     usermods.onMqttMessage(topic, payloadStr);
diff --git a/wled00/presets.cpp b/wled00/presets.cpp
index 6ddccbf3e..580dc44aa 100644
--- a/wled00/presets.cpp
+++ b/wled00/presets.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
  * Methods to handle saving and loading presets to/from the filesystem
  */
 
+// called from: handleSet(), deserializeState(), applyMacro(), handlePlaylist(), checkCountdown(), checkTimers(), handleNightlight(), presetFallback()
+// shortPressAction(), longPressAction(), doublePressAction(), handleSwitch(), onAlexaChange()
 bool applyPreset(byte index, byte callMode)
 {
   if (index == 0) return false;
@@ -19,13 +21,14 @@ bool applyPreset(byte index, byte callMode)
     #endif
     deserializeState(fdo, callMode, index);
   } else {
-    DEBUGFS_PRINTLN(F("Make read buf"));
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Apply preset JSON buffer requested."));
   #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
     DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
   #else
-    while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-    jsonBufferLock = true;
-    doc.clear();
+    if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+      return false;
+    }
   #endif
 
     errorFlag = readObjectFromFileUsingId(filename, index, &doc) ? ERR_NONE : ERR_FS_PLOAD;
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@ bool applyPreset(byte index, byte callMode)
       serializeJson(doc, Serial);
     #endif
     deserializeState(fdo, callMode, index);
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
   }
 
   if (!errorFlag) {
@@ -53,13 +56,14 @@ void savePreset(byte index, bool persist, const char* pname, JsonObject saveobj)
   const char *filename = persist ? "/presets.json" : "/tmp.json";
 
   if (!fileDoc) {
-    DEBUGFS_PRINTLN(F("Allocating saving buffer"));
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Save preset JSON buffer requested."));
   #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
     DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
   #else
-    while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-    jsonBufferLock = true;
-    doc.clear();
+    if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+      return;
+    }
   #endif
 
     sObj = doc.to<JsonObject>();
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ void savePreset(byte index, bool persist, const char* pname, JsonObject saveobj)
 
     writeObjectToFileUsingId(filename, index, &doc);
 
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
   } else { //from JSON API (fileDoc != nullptr)
     DEBUGFS_PRINTLN(F("Reuse recv buffer"));
     sObj.remove(F("psave"));
diff --git a/wled00/set.cpp b/wled00/set.cpp
index 99429e1d9..e97974ee8 100644
--- a/wled00/set.cpp
+++ b/wled00/set.cpp
@@ -418,9 +418,10 @@ void handleSettingsSet(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, byte subPage)
   #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
     DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
   #else
-    while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-    jsonBufferLock = true;
-    doc.clear();
+    if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+      return;
+    }
   #endif
 
     JsonObject um = doc.createNestedObject("um");
@@ -497,7 +498,7 @@ void handleSettingsSet(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, byte subPage)
     usermods.readFromConfig(um);  // force change of usermod parameters
   }
 
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
   
   if (subPage != 2 && (subPage != 6 || !doReboot)) serializeConfig(); //do not save if factory reset or LED settings (which are saved after LED re-init)
   if (subPage == 4) alexaInit();
diff --git a/wled00/util.cpp b/wled00/util.cpp
index 8909fe0b0..e9af648ea 100644
--- a/wled00/util.cpp
+++ b/wled00/util.cpp
@@ -129,3 +129,27 @@ bool isAsterisksOnly(const char* str, byte maxLen)
   //at this point the password contains asterisks only
   return (str[0] != 0); //false on empty string
 }
+
+
+bool requestJSONBufferLock()
+{
+  unsigned long now = millis();
+
+  while (jsonBufferLock && millis()-now < 1000) delay(1); // wait for a second for buffer lock
+
+  if (millis()-now >= 1000) return false; // waiting time-outed
+
+  jsonBufferLock = true;
+  fileDoc = &doc;  // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
+  doc.clear();
+  return true;
+}
+
+
+void releaseJSONBufferLock()
+{
+#ifndef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
+  fileDoc = nullptr;
+  jsonBufferLock = false;
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 59a8aa87f..d21dff4ed 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  */
 
 // version code in format yymmddb (b = daily build)
-#define VERSION 2111091
+#define VERSION 2111121
 
 //uncomment this if you have a "my_config.h" file you'd like to use
 //#define WLED_USE_MY_CONFIG
diff --git a/wled00/wled_eeprom.cpp b/wled00/wled_eeprom.cpp
index f4b4e2ae9..03d0a8067 100644
--- a/wled00/wled_eeprom.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled_eeprom.cpp
@@ -385,9 +385,10 @@ void deEEP() {
 #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
   DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
 #else
-  while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-  jsonBufferLock = true;
-  doc.clear();
+  if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+    return;
+  }
 #endif
 
   JsonObject sObj = doc.to<JsonObject>();
@@ -473,7 +474,7 @@ void deEEP() {
   serializeJson(doc, f);
   f.close();
 
-  jsonBufferLock = false;
+  releaseJSONBufferLock();
 
   DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("deEEP complete!"));
 }
diff --git a/wled00/wled_serial.cpp b/wled00/wled_serial.cpp
index 3a1adc3a7..5e250818d 100644
--- a/wled00/wled_serial.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled_serial.cpp
@@ -43,22 +43,24 @@ void handleSerial()
         }
         else if (next == '{') { //JSON API
           bool verboseResponse = false;
+          DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Serial JSON buffer requested."));
         #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
           DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
         #else
-          while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-          jsonBufferLock = true;
-          doc.clear();
+          if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+            DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+            return;
+          }
         #endif
           Serial.setTimeout(100);
           DeserializationError error = deserializeJson(doc, Serial);
           if (error) {
-            jsonBufferLock = false;
+            releaseJSONBufferLock();
             return;
           }
-          fileDoc = &doc;
+          //fileDoc = &doc; // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
           verboseResponse = deserializeState(doc.as<JsonObject>());
-          fileDoc = nullptr;
+          //fileDoc = nullptr;
 
           //only send response if TX pin is unused for other purposes
           if (verboseResponse && !pinManager.isPinAllocated(1)) {
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ void handleSerial()
 
             serializeJson(doc, Serial);
           }
-          jsonBufferLock = false;
+          releaseJSONBufferLock();
         }
         break;
       case AdaState::Header_d:
diff --git a/wled00/wled_server.cpp b/wled00/wled_server.cpp
index fc5b51003..07ff2107b 100644
--- a/wled00/wled_server.cpp
+++ b/wled00/wled_server.cpp
@@ -110,12 +110,14 @@ void initServer()
     bool verboseResponse = false;
     bool isConfig = false;
     { //scope JsonDocument so it releases its buffer
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("HTTP JSON buffer requested."));
     #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
       DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
     #else
-      while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-      jsonBufferLock = true;
-      doc.clear();
+      if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+        DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+        return;
+      }
     #endif
 
       DeserializationError error = deserializeJson(doc, (uint8_t*)(request->_tempObject));
@@ -131,13 +133,13 @@ void initServer()
           serializeJson(root,Serial);
           DEBUG_PRINTLN();
         #endif
-        fileDoc = &doc;  // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
+        //fileDoc = &doc;  // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
         verboseResponse = deserializeState(root);
-        fileDoc = nullptr;
+        //fileDoc = nullptr;
       } else {
         verboseResponse = deserializeConfig(root); //use verboseResponse to determine whether cfg change should be saved immediately
       }
-      jsonBufferLock = false;
+      releaseJSONBufferLock();
     }
     if (verboseResponse) {
       if (!isConfig) {
diff --git a/wled00/ws.cpp b/wled00/ws.cpp
index 022d4e2e1..5722a3284 100644
--- a/wled00/ws.cpp
+++ b/wled00/ws.cpp
@@ -36,18 +36,20 @@ void wsEvent(AsyncWebSocket * server, AsyncWebSocketClient * client, AwsEventTyp
         }
         bool verboseResponse = false;
         { //scope JsonDocument so it releases its buffer
+        DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("WS JSON receive buffer requested."));
         #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
           DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
         #else
-          while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-          jsonBufferLock = true;
-          doc.clear();
+          if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+            DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+            return;
+          }
         #endif
 
           DeserializationError error = deserializeJson(doc, data, len);
           JsonObject root = doc.as<JsonObject>();
           if (error || root.isNull()) {
-            jsonBufferLock = false;
+            releaseJSONBufferLock();
             return;
           }
           /*
@@ -64,15 +66,15 @@ void wsEvent(AsyncWebSocket * server, AsyncWebSocketClient * client, AwsEventTyp
           {
             wsLiveClientId = root["lv"] ? client->id() : 0;
           } else {
-            fileDoc = &doc;
+            //fileDoc = &doc; // used for applying presets (presets.cpp)
             verboseResponse = deserializeState(root);
-            fileDoc = nullptr;
+            //fileDoc = nullptr;
             if (!interfaceUpdateCallMode) {
               //special case, only on playlist load, avoid sending twice in rapid succession
               if (millis() - lastInterfaceUpdate > 1700) verboseResponse = false;
             }
           }
-          jsonBufferLock = false;
+          releaseJSONBufferLock();
         }
         //update if it takes longer than 300ms until next "broadcast"
         if (verboseResponse && (millis() - lastInterfaceUpdate < 1700 || !interfaceUpdateCallMode)) sendDataWs(client);
@@ -114,12 +116,14 @@ void sendDataWs(AsyncWebSocketClient * client)
   AsyncWebSocketMessageBuffer * buffer;
 
   { //scope JsonDocument so it releases its buffer
+  DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("WS JSON send buffer requested."));
   #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
     DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
   #else
-    while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-    jsonBufferLock = true;
-    doc.clear();
+    if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+      return;
+    }
   #endif
 
     JsonObject state = doc.createNestedObject("state");
@@ -129,7 +133,7 @@ void sendDataWs(AsyncWebSocketClient * client)
     size_t len = measureJson(doc);
     buffer = ws.makeBuffer(len);
     if (!buffer) {
-      jsonBufferLock = false;
+      releaseJSONBufferLock();
       return; //out of memory
     }
 /*
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ void sendDataWs(AsyncWebSocketClient * client)
     #endif
 */
     serializeJson(doc, (char *)buffer->get(), len +1);
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
   } 
   DEBUG_PRINT(F("Sending WS data "));
   if (client) {
diff --git a/wled00/xml.cpp b/wled00/xml.cpp
index 2b3e42b04..a1bca6c7f 100644
--- a/wled00/xml.cpp
+++ b/wled00/xml.cpp
@@ -254,17 +254,19 @@ void getSettingsJS(byte subPage, char* dest)
     oappend(SET_F("d.um_p=[6,7,8,9,10,11"));
 
   #ifdef WLED_USE_DYNAMIC_JSON
-    DynamicJsonDocument doc(JSON_BUFFER_SIZE);
+    DynamicJsonDocument doc(2048); // 2k is enough for usermods
   #else
-    while (jsonBufferLock) delay(1);
-    jsonBufferLock = true;
-    doc.clear();
+    if (!requestJSONBufferLock()) {
+      DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("ERROR: Locking JSON buffer failed!"));
+      return;
+    }
   #endif
   
     JsonObject mods = doc.createNestedObject(F("um"));
     usermods.addToConfig(mods);
     if (!mods.isNull()) fillUMPins(mods);
-    jsonBufferLock = false;
+
+    releaseJSONBufferLock();
 
     #ifdef WLED_ENABLE_DMX
       oappend(SET_F(",2")); // DMX hardcoded pin