diff --git a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/debug_hud.lua b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/debug_hud.lua
index 25b4dc5..2304ed3 100644
--- a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/debug_hud.lua
+++ b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/debug_hud.lua
@@ -9,9 +9,15 @@ local ScriptUnit_extension = ScriptUnit.extension
 mod.debug_hud_last = {}
 
 local ELEMENT_CLASS_NAME = "HudElementAutoMarkDebug"
+local ELEMENT_FILENAME = "AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug"
 
-mod:hook(CLASS.UIManager, "create_player_hud",
-    function(func, self, peer_id, local_player_id, elements, visibility_groups)
+-- the game HUD requires element files through the game require system; without
+-- registering here, require(ELEMENT_FILENAME) from UIHud._add_element never finds
+-- the mod file (DMF loads mod scripts through its own file loader, not package.path)
+mod:add_require_path(ELEMENT_FILENAME)
+
+mod:hook("UIHud", "init",
+    function(func, self, elements, visibility_groups, params)
         if mod_settings.debug_hud and elements then
             local already = false
             for i = 1, #elements do
@@ -23,13 +29,20 @@ mod:hook(CLASS.UIManager, "create_player_hud",
             if not already then
                 elements[#elements + 1] = {
                     class_name = ELEMENT_CLASS_NAME,
-                    filename = "AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug",
+                    filename = ELEMENT_FILENAME,
                     use_hud_scale = true,
                     visibility_groups = { "alive", "dead" },
                 }
             end
+            if not mod.debug_hud_inject_logged then
+                mod.debug_hud_inject_logged = true
+                mod:diag("OMNI-HUD inject: setting=on already=", tostring(already))
+            end
+        elseif not mod.debug_hud_inject_logged then
+            mod.debug_hud_inject_logged = true
+            mod:diag("OMNI-HUD inject: setting=off, skipped")
         end
-        return func(self, peer_id, local_player_id, elements, visibility_groups)
+        return func(self, elements, visibility_groups, params)
     end)
 
 local function unit_breed_name(unit)
diff --git a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug.lua b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug.lua
index 2b7af73..a2489c7 100644
--- a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug.lua
+++ b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/ui/hud_element_debug.lua
@@ -49,12 +49,7 @@ local widget_definitions = {
 					0,
 					0,
 				},
-				text_color = {
-					240,
-					235,
-					180,
-					255,
-				},
+				text_color = Color.terminal_text_header(255, true),
 			},
 		},
 	}, "panel"),
@@ -70,6 +65,8 @@ HudElementAutoMarkDebug.init = function (self, parent, draw_layer, start_scale)
 end
 
 HudElementAutoMarkDebug.update = function (self, dt, t, ui_renderer, render_settings, input_service)
+	HudElementAutoMarkDebug.super.update(self, dt, t, ui_renderer, render_settings, input_service)
+
 	self._rebuild_time = self._rebuild_time - dt
 	if self._rebuild_time > 0 then
 		return