diff --git a/players/play_steam.bat b/players/play_steam.bat
index 011ac1c..5d915f8 100644
--- a/players/play_steam.bat
+++ b/players/play_steam.bat
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ rem (field report: players booted 3rd-person without them).  Inherited by
 rem the menu's mission relaunch.
 set BT_START_INSIDE=1
 set BT_DEV_GAUGES=1
+rem full menu here (all modes + steam buttons); clear the solo trim in
+rem case this shell ran play_solo.bat first
+set BT_FE_SOLO=
 cd content
 ..\build\Release\btl4.exe
 echo.