diff --git a/UI/CaptureView.cs b/UI/CaptureView.cs
--- a/UI/CaptureView.cs
+++ b/UI/CaptureView.cs
@@ -399,6 +399,8 @@ namespace DesertPaintLab
                     warning = warning + "\nBlue is too high.";
                 }
 
+                // Always update the reacted swatch
+                this.reactionSwatch.Color = reactedColor;
                 if (warning.Length != 0)
                 {
                     isCaptured = true;
@@ -411,10 +413,11 @@ namespace DesertPaintLab
 
                     md.Run();
                     md.Destroy();
+                    // reaction clipped - don't let them record
+                    recordButton.Sensitive = false;
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    this.reactionSwatch.Color = reactedColor;
                     recordButton.Sensitive = recordEnabled;
                 }