diff --git a/packages/api/routes/line.ts b/packages/api/routes/line.ts
index dd81cf5..bbfd089 100644
--- a/packages/api/routes/line.ts
+++ b/packages/api/routes/line.ts
@@ -128,7 +128,11 @@ async function getUserLines(req: Request, res: Response) {
     );
 
     if (!userLineMembers?.length) {
-      res.status(400).json();
+      const resObj = new GetUserLinesResponse([]);
+
+      res.json(
+        new NirvanaResponse(resObj, undefined, "this user is not in any lines")
+      );
 
       return;
     }
@@ -139,13 +143,14 @@ async function getUserLines(req: Request, res: Response) {
     // this will include the current user lineMember association to the line
     const allLineMembers = await LineService.getLineMembersInLines(lineIds);
 
-    const allLinesUsers: ObjectId[] = [];
+    const allLinesUsersIds: ObjectId[] = [];
     allLineMembers?.map((currentLineMember) => {
-      if (currentLineMember?._id) allLinesUsers.push(currentLineMember.userId);
+      if (currentLineMember?.userId)
+        allLinesUsersIds.push(currentLineMember.userId);
     }) ?? [];
 
     // get all users relevant here
-    const allRelevantUsers = await UserService.getUsersByIds(allLinesUsers);
+    const allRelevantUsers = await UserService.getUsersByIds(allLinesUsersIds);
 
     // get all lines from the list of relevant lines
     const lines = (await LineService.getLinesByIds(lineIds)) ?? [];
@@ -183,8 +188,8 @@ async function getUserLines(req: Request, res: Response) {
         // get the user objects for all of the other members
         const otherUsers: User[] = [];
         associatedLineMembersForLine.forEach((currentLineMember) => {
-          const foundUserObject = allRelevantUsers?.find(
-            (currentUser) => currentUser._id === currentLineMember.userId
+          const foundUserObject = allRelevantUsers?.find((currentUser) =>
+            currentUser._id?.equals(currentLineMember.userId)
           );
 
           if (foundUserObject) otherUsers.push(foundUserObject);
diff --git a/packages/core/responses/nirvanaResponse.ts b/packages/core/responses/nirvanaResponse.ts
index a610d09..7317d42 100644
--- a/packages/core/responses/nirvanaResponse.ts
+++ b/packages/core/responses/nirvanaResponse.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@
 export default class NirvanaResponse<T> {
   data?: T;
   error?: Error;
+  message?: string;
 
-  constructor(_data: T, _error?: Error) {
+  constructor(_data: T, _error?: Error, _message?: string) {
     this.data = _data;
     this.error = _error;
+
+    this.message = _message;
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/components/lines/lineRow.tsx/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/components/lines/lineRow.tsx/index.tsx
index 01d9e17..3b5d1e6 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/components/lines/lineRow.tsx/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/components/lines/lineRow.tsx/index.tsx
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ export default function LineRow({
    * */
   const renderActivityIcon = useMemo(() => {
     // if there is someone or me broadcasting here
-    if (masterLineData.currentUserMember.lastVisitDate)
-      return <FiSun className="text-xs text-teal-500" />;
+    // if (masterLineData.currentUserMember.lastVisitDate)
+    return <FiSun className="text-xs text-teal-500" />;
 
     // if there is new activity blocks for me
     if (masterLineData.currentUserMember.lastVisitDate)
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ export default function LineRow({
   const profilePictures = useMemo(() => {
     const pictureSources: string[] = [];
 
-    if (userData?.user?.picture) pictureSources.push(userData.user.picture);
+    // ?don't add in my image as that's useless contextually?
+    // if (userData?.user?.picture) pictureSources.push(userData.user.picture);
 
     masterLineData.otherUserObjects?.forEach((otherUser) => {
       if (otherUser.picture) pictureSources.push(otherUser.picture);
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/nirvanaApp.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/nirvanaApp.tsx
index 86561e2..eb565a7 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/nirvanaApp.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/nirvanaApp.tsx
@@ -46,10 +46,7 @@ function NirvanaApp() {
             <NirvanaRouter />
           </ProtectedRoute>
 
-          {/* <ReactQueryDevtools
-              initialIsOpen={false}
-              position={"bottom-left"}
-            /> */}
+          <ReactQueryDevtools initialIsOpen={true} position={"bottom-left"} />
         </RecoilRoot>
         <Toaster />
       </QueryClientProvider>
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/index.tsx
index ca23353..68f2c71 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/index.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export default function NirvanaTerminal({
 }: {
   allLines: ILineDetails[];
 }) {
-  const [isModalVisible, setIsModalVisible] = useState<boolean>(true);
+  const [isModalVisible, setIsModalVisible] = useState<boolean>(false);
 
   const setSelectedLineId = useSetRecoilState($selectedLineId);
   const setDesktopMode = useSetRecoilState($desktopMode);
@@ -92,6 +92,13 @@ export default function NirvanaTerminal({
           <Skeleton />
         ) : (
           <>
+            {" "}
+            {!userLinesRes?.data?.masterLines.length && (
+              <span className="text-gray-300 text-sm my-5 text-center">
+                You have no lines! <br /> Create one to connect to your team
+                instantly.
+              </span>
+            )}
             {userLinesRes?.data?.masterLines?.map((masterLineData) => (
               <LineRow
                 key={`terminalListLines-${masterLineData.lineDetails._id.toString()}`}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/newLine/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/newLine/index.tsx
index e85353a..bdaf9c2 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/newLine/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/terminal/newLine/index.tsx
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export default function NewLineModal({
       toast.success("created line!");
 
       // handle close once the new line is created
-      handleClose();
+      // handleClose();
     } catch (error) {
       toast.error(error);
       console.error(error);