diff --git a/mac/daemon.py b/mac/daemon.py
index f1ddf6c..91f2084 100644
--- a/mac/daemon.py
+++ b/mac/daemon.py
@@ -67,20 +67,17 @@ def do_print(body, encode):
             return {'ok': False, 'error': str(e)}
 
     with LOCK, Urovo() as p:
-        # 1) direct thermal. Wait out transient busy states before feeding to clear,
-        #    so we don't waste a label on a momentary post-print code.
-        p.ribbon_off()
-        time.sleep(0.4)
-        if p.wait_ready(3.0) != 0x00:
-            st = p.recover()
-            if st != 0x00:
-                return {'ok': False, 'error': 'printer not ready',
-                        'status': st, 'statusText': status_text(st)}
-
-        # 2) geometry, then the artwork
-        geometry(p, prof)
-        p.cls()
-
+        # ENCODE BEFORE GEOMETRY. Order matters on this firmware, and it cost most of a day:
+        # the SIZE/GAP/TEAR/DIRECTION/CLS burst that sets up a print silences the UHF module
+        # -- every UHF READ/QUERY afterwards returns no bytes at all until a power-cycle --
+        # so an encode placed after it always failed its own read-back with "before: null",
+        # which looks exactly like a chip that never reached the antenna. It had. The module
+        # was fine right up until the geometry went out (a standalone /read-tag a second
+        # earlier read the chip every time; SET RIBBON OFF + FORMFEED provably do not kill
+        # it). UHF WRITE commits immediately and needs no geometry, and printing works fine
+        # AFTER geometry, so: read, write, verify on the untouched module first; only then
+        # set up the print. Nothing feeds in between, so the label at the antenna is the one
+        # that prints.
         before = verified = None
         if encode:
             # Deliberately NO `SET RFID` here. It was tried as an "arm the radio first" step and
@@ -100,6 +97,18 @@ def do_print(body, encode):
                 return {'ok': False, 'error': 'RFID encode failed verification',
                         'epc': epc, 'epcBefore': before, 'readBack': p.read_uhf(),
                         'note': 'nothing printed -- no label wasted'}
+        # 1) direct thermal. Wait out transient busy states before feeding to clear,
+        #    so we don't waste a label on a momentary post-print code.
+        p.ribbon_off()
+        time.sleep(0.4)
+        if p.wait_ready(3.0) != 0x00:
+            st = p.recover()
+            if st != 0x00:
+                return {'ok': False, 'error': 'printer not ready',
+                        'status': st, 'statusText': status_text(st)}
+        # 2) geometry, then the artwork -- AFTER the encode, see above
+        geometry(p, prof)
+        p.cls()
         p.write(label.to_tspl(label.render(body, prof)))
 
         # 4) re-assert ribbon-off immediately before firing