diff --git a/macropad_gui/__main__.py b/macropad_gui/__main__.py
index baa4b2c..53dc5d4 100644
--- a/macropad_gui/__main__.py
+++ b/macropad_gui/__main__.py
@@ -35,8 +35,20 @@ def cmd_doctor(_):
     return 0 if d.ready else 1
 
 
+def _state_for(device):
+    """The shadow state of the pad that is plugged in, or the default one."""
+    if device is None:
+        return core.State()
+    state = core.State(device_id=f"{device.vid}:{device.pid}")
+    if not state.path.exists():
+        known = core.KNOWN_LAYOUTS.get((device.vid, device.pid))
+        if known:
+            state.layout = known
+    return state
+
+
 def cmd_state(_):
-    s = core.State()
+    s = _state_for(core.diagnose(keyd=False).device)
     print(f"{DIM}{s.path}{'' if s.path.exists() else '  (not created yet)'}{O}\n")
     print(f"{DIM}layout: {s.layout.describe()}{O}\n")
     for c in s.layout.control_ids:
@@ -77,9 +89,6 @@ def cmd_actions(a):
 
 
 def cmd_write(a):
-    if a.control not in core.CONTROL_IDS:
-        print(f"Unknown control. One of: {', '.join(core.CONTROL_IDS)}")
-        return 1
     try:
         b = core.Binding(keys=a.keys or "", media=a.media or "",
                          delay=a.delay).validate()
@@ -91,7 +100,10 @@ def cmd_write(a):
     if not d.ready:
         return cmd_doctor(None)
 
-    state = core.State()
+    state = _state_for(d.device)
+    if a.control not in state.layout.control_ids:
+        print(f"Unknown control. One of: {', '.join(state.layout.control_ids)}")
+        return 1
     try:
         core.write_binding(d.device, a.control, b, state)
     except core.WriteError as e: