diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 241598fd0..25987fab0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@ jobs:
   test-simulator:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: Install libbluetooth
+      - name: Install libs needed for native build
         shell: bash
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update --fix-missing
-          sudo apt-get install -y libbluetooth-dev libgpiod-dev libyaml-cpp-dev openssl libssl-dev libulfius-dev liborcania-dev
+          sudo apt-get install -y libbluetooth-dev libgpiod-dev libyaml-cpp-dev openssl libssl-dev libulfius-dev liborcania-dev libusb-1.0-0-dev libi2c-dev
 
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/src/mesh/Channels.cpp b/src/mesh/Channels.cpp
index 4bdd9e674..4bc91ce4e 100644
--- a/src/mesh/Channels.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/Channels.cpp
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ bool Channels::anyMqttEnabled()
 {
 #if USERPREFS_EVENT_MODE
     // Don't publish messages on the public MQTT broker if we are in event mode
-    if (strcmp(moduleConfig.mqtt.address, default_mqtt_address) == 0) {
+    if (mqtt && mqtt.isUsingDefaultServer()) {
         return false;
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp b/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
index ba47e26e3..a8a3e49ea 100644
--- a/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
+++ b/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
@@ -324,9 +324,10 @@ MQTT::MQTT() : concurrency::OSThread("mqtt"), mqttQueue(MAX_MQTT_QUEUE)
                 moduleConfig.mqtt.map_report_settings.publish_interval_secs, default_map_publish_interval_secs);
         }
 
+        String host = parseHostAndPort(moduleConfig.mqtt.address).first;
+        isConfiguredForDefaultServer = host.length() == 0 || host == default_mqtt_address;
         IPAddress ip;
-        isMqttServerAddressPrivate =
-            ip.fromString(parseHostAndPort(moduleConfig.mqtt.address).first.c_str()) && isPrivateIpAddress(ip);
+        isMqttServerAddressPrivate = ip.fromString(host.c_str()) && isPrivateIpAddress(ip);
 
 #if HAS_NETWORKING
         if (!moduleConfig.mqtt.proxy_to_client_enabled)
@@ -633,9 +634,8 @@ void MQTT::onSend(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp_encrypted, const meshtastic_Me
             return;
         }
 
-        if (strcmp(moduleConfig.mqtt.address, default_mqtt_address) == 0 &&
-            (mp_decoded.decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_RANGE_TEST_APP ||
-             mp_decoded.decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_DETECTION_SENSOR_APP)) {
+        if (isConfiguredForDefaultServer && (mp_decoded.decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_RANGE_TEST_APP ||
+                                             mp_decoded.decoded.portnum == meshtastic_PortNum_DETECTION_SENSOR_APP)) {
             LOG_DEBUG("MQTT onSend - Ignoring range test or detection sensor message on public mqtt");
             return;
         }
diff --git a/src/mqtt/MQTT.h b/src/mqtt/MQTT.h
index 81892f6f3..cb1fffcc9 100644
--- a/src/mqtt/MQTT.h
+++ b/src/mqtt/MQTT.h
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ class MQTT : private concurrency::OSThread
 
     void start() { setIntervalFromNow(0); };
 
+    bool isUsingDefaultServer() { return isConfiguredForDefaultServer; }
+
   protected:
     struct QueueEntry {
         std::string topic;
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ class MQTT : private concurrency::OSThread
     PointerQueue<QueueEntry> mqttQueue;
 
     int reconnectCount = 0;
+    bool isConfiguredForDefaultServer = true;
 
     virtual int32_t runOnce() override;
 
diff --git a/version.properties b/version.properties
index addcab501..ba7d7fe6f 100644
--- a/version.properties
+++ b/version.properties
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 [VERSION]  
 major = 2
 minor = 5
-build = 17
+build = 18