diff --git a/inc/displ.h b/inc/displ.h
index a76dcb7..d66295b 100644
--- a/inc/displ.h
+++ b/inc/displ.h
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ struct Displ {
 	char *zxdg_output_manager_interface;
 
 	enum ConfigState config_state;
-
-	char *delta_message;
 };
 
 void displ_init(void);
diff --git a/inc/global.h b/inc/global.h
index 3cd7d02..5944188 100644
--- a/inc/global.h
+++ b/inc/global.h
@@ -10,4 +10,6 @@ extern struct SList *cfg_file_paths;
 extern struct Head *head_changing_mode;
 extern struct Head *head_changing_adaptive_sync;
 
+extern char *deltas_brief;
+
 #endif // GLOBAL_H
diff --git a/src/global.c b/src/global.c
index 827cdbe..3e7de8b 100644
--- a/src/global.c
+++ b/src/global.c
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@ struct SList *cfg_file_paths = NULL;
 struct Head *head_changing_mode = NULL;
 struct Head *head_changing_adaptive_sync = NULL;
 
+char *deltas_brief = NULL;
+
diff --git a/src/info.c b/src/info.c
index 06081dc..e95cb01 100644
--- a/src/info.c
+++ b/src/info.c
@@ -462,21 +462,37 @@ char *render_deltas_brief(const enum ConfigState config_state, const struct SLis
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		// mode changes happen in their own operation
+		// mode changes happen in their own operation, with an enable
 		if (head_current_mode_not_desired(head)) {
-			bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "%s%s:\n  mode: %dx%d@%dHz -> %dx%d@%dHz\n", // line up with vrr
+			bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "%s%s:\n  mode: ", // line up with vrr
 					head->name,
-					(!head->current.enabled && head->desired.enabled) ? ": enabled" : "",
-					head->current.mode->width,
-					head->current.mode->height,
-					mhz_to_hz_rounded(head->current.mode->refresh_mhz),
-					head->desired.mode->width,
-					head->desired.mode->height,
-					mhz_to_hz_rounded(head->desired.mode->refresh_mhz)
+					(!head->current.enabled && head->desired.enabled) ? ": enabled" : ""
 					);
+
+			if (head->current.mode) {
+				bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "%dx%d@%dHz -> ",
+						head->current.mode->width,
+						head->current.mode->height,
+						mhz_to_hz_rounded(head->current.mode->refresh_mhz)
+						);
+			} else {
+				bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "(no mode) -> ");
+			}
+
+			if (head->desired.mode) {
+				bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "%dx%d@%dHz\n",
+						head->desired.mode->width,
+						head->desired.mode->height,
+						mhz_to_hz_rounded(head->desired.mode->refresh_mhz)
+						);
+			} else {
+				bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "(no mode)\n");
+			}
+
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		// enable with no change in mode
 		if (!head->current.enabled && head->desired.enabled) {
 			bufp += snprintf(bufp, len - (bufp - buf), "%s: enabled\n", head->name);
 			continue;
diff --git a/src/layout.c b/src/layout.c
index f661ca3..92ade16 100644
--- a/src/layout.c
+++ b/src/layout.c
@@ -327,8 +327,8 @@ void apply(void) {
 
 	zwlr_output_configuration_v1_apply(zwlr_config);
 
-	free(displ->delta_message);
-	displ->delta_message = render_deltas_brief(displ->config_state, heads_changing);
+	free(deltas_brief);
+	deltas_brief = render_deltas_brief(displ->config_state, heads_changing);
 
 	displ->config_state = OUTSTANDING;
 
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ void handle_success(void) {
 		log_info("\nExecuting CHANGE_SUCCESS_CMD:");
 		log_info("  %s", cfg->change_success_cmd);
 
-		spawn_sh_cmd(cfg->change_success_cmd, displ->delta_message);
+		spawn_sh_cmd(cfg->change_success_cmd, deltas_brief);
 	}
 
 	log_info("\nChanges successful");
@@ -438,8 +438,8 @@ void layout(void) {
 			break;
 	}
 
-	free(displ->delta_message);
-	displ->delta_message = NULL;
+	free(deltas_brief);
+	deltas_brief = NULL;
 
 	desire();
 	apply();
diff --git a/tst/tst-info.c b/tst/tst-info.c
index 24814cd..ec25306 100644
--- a/tst/tst-info.c
+++ b/tst/tst-info.c
@@ -259,19 +259,45 @@ void print_head_deltas__enable(void **state) {
 	free(expected_log);
 }
 
-void render_deltas_brief__mode_vrr(void **state) {
+void render_deltas_brief__mode(void **state) {
 	struct State *s = *state;
 
-	s->head2->desired.adaptive_sync = ZWLR_OUTPUT_HEAD_V1_ADAPTIVE_SYNC_STATE_ENABLED;
+	s->head1->desired.mode = NULL;
+
+	s->head2->current.mode = NULL;
+
+	char *deltas = render_deltas_brief(SUCCEEDED, s->heads);
+
+	assert_string_equal(deltas, ""
+			"name1:\n"
+			"  mode: 100x200@30Hz -> (no mode)\n"
+			"name2:\n"
+			"  mode: (no mode) -> 1400x1500@160Hz"
+			);
+
+	slist_free(&heads);
+
+	free(deltas);
+}
+
+void render_deltas_brief__vrr(void **state) {
+	struct State *s = *state;
+
+	s->head1->desired.mode = s->head1->current.mode;
+	s->head1->current.adaptive_sync = ZWLR_OUTPUT_HEAD_V1_ADAPTIVE_SYNC_STATE_DISABLED;
+	s->head1->desired.adaptive_sync = ZWLR_OUTPUT_HEAD_V1_ADAPTIVE_SYNC_STATE_ENABLED;
+
 	s->head2->desired.mode = s->head2->current.mode;
+	s->head2->current.adaptive_sync = ZWLR_OUTPUT_HEAD_V1_ADAPTIVE_SYNC_STATE_ENABLED;
+	s->head2->desired.adaptive_sync = ZWLR_OUTPUT_HEAD_V1_ADAPTIVE_SYNC_STATE_DISABLED;
 
 	char *deltas = render_deltas_brief(SUCCEEDED, s->heads);
 
 	assert_string_equal(deltas, ""
 			"name1:\n"
-			"  mode: 100x200@30Hz -> 400x500@60Hz\n"
+			"  VRR:  on\n"
 			"name2:\n"
-			"  VRR:  on"
+			"  VRR:  off"
 			);
 
 	slist_free(&heads);
@@ -363,7 +389,8 @@ int main(void) {
 		TEST(print_head_deltas__disable),
 		TEST(print_head_deltas__enable),
 
-		TEST(render_deltas_brief__mode_vrr),
+		TEST(render_deltas_brief__mode),
+		TEST(render_deltas_brief__vrr),
 		TEST(render_deltas_brief__other),
 		TEST(render_deltas_brief__enabled),
 	};
diff --git a/tst/tst-layout.c b/tst/tst-layout.c
index 974301c..6f5f620 100644
--- a/tst/tst-layout.c
+++ b/tst/tst-layout.c
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ int after_all(void **state) {
 
 int before_each(void **state) {
 	cfg = cfg_default();
-	displ = calloc(1, sizeof(struct Displ));
 
 	struct State *s = calloc(1, sizeof(struct State));
 
@@ -83,8 +82,6 @@ int after_each(void **state) {
 	head_changing_mode = NULL;
 	head_changing_adaptive_sync = NULL;
 
-	free(displ);
-
 	cfg_destroy();
 
 	struct State *s = *state;
@@ -645,14 +642,14 @@ void handle_success__head_changing_mode(void **state) {
 
 void handle_success__change_success_cmd(void **state) {
 	cfg->change_success_cmd = strdup("echo \"hi from way-displays\"");
-	displ->delta_message = strdup("DP-1: enabled\n  mode: xx->yy");
+	deltas_brief = strdup("DP-1: enabled\n  mode: xx->yy");
 
 	expect_string(__wrap_spawn_sh_cmd, command, cfg->change_success_cmd);
-	expect_string(__wrap_spawn_sh_cmd, message, displ->delta_message);
+	expect_string(__wrap_spawn_sh_cmd, message, deltas_brief);
 
 	handle_success();
 
-	free(displ->delta_message);
+	free(deltas_brief);
 
 	assert_log(INFO, "\nExecuting CHANGE_SUCCESS_CMD:\n"
 			"  echo \"hi from way-displays\"\n"