diff --git a/libdfu/dfu-device.c b/libdfu/dfu-device.c
index 0c2b3340e..26365243f 100644
--- a/libdfu/dfu-device.c
+++ b/libdfu/dfu-device.c
@@ -638,6 +638,14 @@ dfu_device_upload (DfuDevice *device,
 
 	/* APP -> DFU */
 	if (flags & DFU_TARGET_TRANSFER_FLAG_DETACH) {
+
+		/* inform UI there's going to be a detach:attach */
+		if (progress_cb != NULL) {
+			progress_cb (DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH, 0, 0,
+				     progress_cb_data);
+		}
+
+		/* detach and USB reset */
 		target_default = dfu_device_get_target_default (device, error);
 		if (target_default == NULL)
 			return NULL;
@@ -685,6 +693,14 @@ dfu_device_upload (DfuDevice *device,
 	/* boot to runtime */
 	if (flags & DFU_TARGET_TRANSFER_FLAG_BOOT_RUNTIME) {
 		g_debug ("booting to runtime");
+
+		/* inform UI there's going to be a detach:attach */
+		if (progress_cb != NULL) {
+			progress_cb (DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH, 0, 0,
+				     progress_cb_data);
+		}
+
+		/* DFU -> APP */
 		if (!dfu_device_wait_for_replug (device, 2000, cancellable, error))
 			return NULL;
 	}
@@ -767,6 +783,14 @@ dfu_device_download (DfuDevice *device,
 
 	/* APP -> DFU */
 	if (flags & DFU_TARGET_TRANSFER_FLAG_DETACH) {
+
+		/* inform UI there's going to be a detach:attach */
+		if (progress_cb != NULL) {
+			progress_cb (DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH, 0, 0,
+				     progress_cb_data);
+		}
+
+		/* detach and USB reset */
 		target_default = dfu_device_get_target_default (device, error);
 		if (target_default == NULL)
 			return FALSE;
@@ -823,6 +847,14 @@ dfu_device_download (DfuDevice *device,
 	/* boot to runtime */
 	if (flags & DFU_TARGET_TRANSFER_FLAG_BOOT_RUNTIME) {
 		g_debug ("booting to runtime to set auto-boot");
+
+		/* inform UI there's going to be a detach:attach */
+		if (progress_cb != NULL) {
+			progress_cb (DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH, 0, 0,
+				     progress_cb_data);
+		}
+
+		/* DFU -> APP */
 		if (!dfu_device_wait_for_replug (device, 2000, cancellable, error))
 			return FALSE;
 		target_default = dfu_device_get_target_default (device, error);
diff --git a/libdfu/dfu-tool.c b/libdfu/dfu-tool.c
index 69c4c1420..53d29df60 100644
--- a/libdfu/dfu-tool.c
+++ b/libdfu/dfu-tool.c
@@ -871,16 +871,28 @@ fu_tool_transfer_progress_cb (DfuState state, goffset current,
 	/* changed state */
 	if (state != helper->last_state) {
 		const gchar *title = NULL;
+
+		/* detach was left hanging... */
+		if (helper->last_state == DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH) {
+			/* TRANSLATORS: when an action has completed */
+			g_print ("%s\n", _("OK"));
+		}
+
 		switch (state) {
+		case DFU_STATE_APP_DETACH:
+			/* TRANSLATORS: when moving from APP to DFU mode */
+			title = _("Detatching");
+			break;
 		case DFU_STATE_DFU_DNLOAD_IDLE:
-			/* TRANSLATORS: this is when moving from host to device */
+			/* TRANSLATORS: when copying from host to device */
 			title = _("Downloading");
 			break;
 		case DFU_STATE_DFU_UPLOAD_IDLE:
-			/* TRANSLATORS: this is when moving from device to host */
+			/* TRANSLATORS: when copying from device to host */
 			title = _("Verifying");
 			break;
 		default:
+			g_debug ("ignoring %s", dfu_state_to_string (state));
 			break;
 		}
 		/* show title and then pad */
@@ -894,6 +906,10 @@ fu_tool_transfer_progress_cb (DfuState state, goffset current,
 		helper->last_state = state;
 	}
 
+	/* not known yet */
+	if (total == 0)
+		return;
+
 	/* add any sections */
 	marks_now = current * helper->marks_total / total;
 	for (i = helper->marks_shown; i < marks_now; i++)