diff --git a/terminal_keyboard_emulator.ino b/terminal_keyboard_emulator.ino
index 843c137..6cabb0d 100644
--- a/terminal_keyboard_emulator.ino
+++ b/terminal_keyboard_emulator.ino
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ int test = 0;
 volatile int counter = 0;
 int numbits = 10;
 volatile int typedKey = -1;
+bool hostOnline = false;
 
 // MODS >>>
 // [1] send debug scancode information to serial port
@@ -373,12 +374,13 @@ void onTimerInterrupt()
 // --------------
 // User Interface
 // --------------
-void updateOnlineLeds()
+void updateOnlineStatus()
 {
   long timeNow = millis();
-  bool online = (lastChange > timeNow) || ((timeNow - lastChange) < 10000);
-  digitalWrite(pinLedOffline, online ? LOW : HIGH);
-  digitalWrite(pinLedOnline, online ? HIGH : LOW);
+  hostOnline = (lastChange > timeNow) || ((timeNow - lastChange) < 10000);
+
+  digitalWrite(pinLedOffline, hostOnline ? LOW : HIGH);
+  digitalWrite(pinLedOnline, hostOnline ? HIGH : LOW);
 }
 
 // ----
@@ -422,7 +424,7 @@ void setup(void)
   digitalWrite(pinLedOnline, LOW);
   delay(500);
 
-  updateOnlineLeds();
+  updateOnlineStatus();
   tone(pinSpeaker, 440, 200);
   delay(200);
 
@@ -458,8 +460,12 @@ void loop(void)
   if (qwe % 5 == 0) delay(2000);
   /**/
 
-  updateOnlineLeds();
-  if (typedKey != -1) {
+  updateOnlineStatus();
+  if (nextKeyReady && !hostOnline) { // skip sending key without a host (used for USB)
+      nextKeyReady = false;
+      typedKey = nextKey;
+  }
+  if (!nextKeyReady && typedKey != -1) {
       tone(pinSpeaker, 200 + typedKey, 100);
       typedKey = -1;
   }