diff --git a/game/glass/btl4fe.cpp b/game/glass/btl4fe.cpp
index d91f53f..489718f 100644
--- a/game/glass/btl4fe.cpp
+++ b/game/glass/btl4fe.cpp
@@ -568,6 +568,26 @@ static MenuState menu;
 static const COLORREF kGreenBright	= RGB(64, 255, 64);
 static const COLORREF kGreenDim		= RGB(24, 140, 24);
 
+//
+// BT_FE_SOLO=1 (play_solo.bat): a SOLO-ONLY menu.  The mode cycle keeps just
+// the two solo entries (kModes lists them FIRST: solo, raw), and the network
+// rows/buttons (NET PORT, HOST/JOIN STEAM) are not laid out -- LAN play goes
+// through the join bats + operator, Steam through play_steam.bat.  A stale
+// fe_last.ini mode of hostlan/joinlan is rejected by the GroupSize clamp in
+// LoadPersisted, so the selection can never land on a hidden mode.
+//
+static int
+	FeSoloOnly()
+{
+	static int s = -1;
+	if (s < 0)
+	{
+		const char *e = getenv("BT_FE_SOLO");
+		s = (e != NULL && *e != '0') ? 1 : 0;
+	}
+	return s;
+}
+
 static int
 	GroupSize(int group)
 {
@@ -585,7 +605,7 @@ static int
 	case GroupPatch:		return COUNT(kPatches);
 	case GroupDropZone:		return COUNT(kDropZones);
 	case GroupAdvDamage:	return COUNT(kAdvDamage);
-	case GroupMode:			return COUNT(kModes);
+	case GroupMode:			return FeSoloOnly() ? 2 : COUNT(kModes);	// solo, raw
 	case GroupPort:			return COUNT(kPorts);
 	default:				return 1;
 	}
@@ -713,13 +733,19 @@ static void
 	// col4: emblem + patch
 	y = MenuTopY; AddGroup(GroupBadge, MenuCol4X, &y);
 	              AddGroup(GroupPatch, MenuCol4X, &y);
-	// col5: the session + controls
+	// col5: the session + controls (solo-only: no net port, no steam buttons)
 	y = MenuTopY; AddGroup(GroupMode, MenuCol5X, &y);
+	if (!FeSoloOnly())
+	{
 	              AddGroup(GroupPort, MenuCol5X, &y);
+	}
 	AddButton(GroupLaunch,    MenuCol5X, MenuClientH - 190, 220, 52);
 #ifdef BT_STEAM
-	AddButton(GroupSteamHost, MenuCol5X, MenuClientH - 120, 220, 34);
-	AddButton(GroupSteamJoin, MenuCol5X, MenuClientH - 76, 220, 34);
+	if (!FeSoloOnly())
+	{
+		AddButton(GroupSteamHost, MenuCol5X, MenuClientH - 120, 220, 34);
+		AddButton(GroupSteamJoin, MenuCol5X, MenuClientH - 76, 220, 34);
+	}
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/players/play_solo.bat b/players/play_solo.bat
index fa95826..8a9e58c 100644
--- a/players/play_solo.bat
+++ b/players/play_solo.bat
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ if not exist "content\OPERATOR.EGG" goto badpath
 set BT_START_INSIDE=1
 set BT_DEV_GAUGES=1
 set BT_LOG=join.log
+set BT_FE_SOLO=1
 cd content
 ..\build\Release\btl4.exe
 echo.
diff --git a/tools/btoperator.py b/tools/btoperator.py
index 98c40e5..512b040 100644
--- a/tools/btoperator.py
+++ b/tools/btoperator.py
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ class Operator(QMainWindow):
                 "rem experience, weather, length; the menu returns after each "
                 "mission).\n",
                 "set BT_START_INSIDE=1\nset BT_DEV_GAUGES=1\n"
-                "set BT_LOG=join.log\n",
+                "set BT_LOG=join.log\nset BT_FE_SOLO=1\n",
                 "..\\build\\Release\\btl4.exe\n",
                 "echo.\necho The game has exited.  If it closed unexpectedly,\n"
                 "echo send the operator content\\join.log.\npause\n"))