diff --git a/data/Memory-ng.xml b/data/Memory-ng.xml
index e0528d4b0..9941440b4 100644
--- a/data/Memory-ng.xml
+++ b/data/Memory-ng.xml
@@ -1874,6 +1874,10 @@
     <Version name="v0.31.12 linux" os="linux" base="v0.31.11 linux" rebase="-0x1000">
         <MD5 value="e79cead03187ecb692961b316b7cdcd4" />
         <Offsets>
+            <Group name="GUI">
+                <!-- FIXME: this could be wrong for many other versions. Investigate. -->
+                <Address name="pause_state" value="0x92ec65c"/>
+            </Group>
             <Group name="Constructions">
                 <Address name="vector" value="0x92f30a4"/>
                 <Offset name="sizeof" value="0x14"/>
diff --git a/library/include/DFHack.h b/library/include/DFHack.h
index 57e11ad50..95f39729a 100644
--- a/library/include/DFHack.h
+++ b/library/include/DFHack.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "dfhack/modules/Items.h"
 #include "dfhack/modules/Vegetation.h"
 #include "dfhack/modules/Maps.h"
+#include "dfhack/modules/Gui.h"
 
 /*
  * This is a header full of ugly, volatile things.
diff --git a/library/include/dfhack/modules/Gui.h b/library/include/dfhack/modules/Gui.h
index 0ef170d3f..6ac91f35c 100644
--- a/library/include/dfhack/modules/Gui.h
+++ b/library/include/dfhack/modules/Gui.h
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ namespace DFHack
         bool Finish();
         
         ///true if paused, false if not
-        bool ReadPauseState(); 
+        bool ReadPauseState();
+        ///true if paused, false if not
+        void SetPauseState(bool paused);
         /// read the DF menu view state (stock screen, unit screen, other screens
         bool ReadViewScreen(t_viewscreen &);
         /// read the DF menu state (designation menu ect)
diff --git a/library/modules/Gui.cpp b/library/modules/Gui.cpp
index 37d027495..177a00467 100644
--- a/library/modules/Gui.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Gui.cpp
@@ -93,13 +93,19 @@ bool Gui::Finish()
 
 bool Gui::ReadPauseState()
 {
-    // replace with an exception
     if(!d->PauseInited) return false;
 
     uint32_t pauseState = d->owner->readDWord (d->pause_state_offset);
     return pauseState & 1;
 }
 
+void Gui::SetPauseState(bool paused)
+{
+    if(!d->PauseInited) return;
+    cout << "pause set" << endl;
+    d->owner->writeDWord (d->pause_state_offset, paused);
+}
+
 uint32_t Gui::ReadMenuState()
 {
     if(d->MenuStateInited)
diff --git a/library/modules/Maps.cpp b/library/modules/Maps.cpp
index eab61faf9..124e9bea9 100644
--- a/library/modules/Maps.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Maps.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ Maps::Maps(DFContextShared* _d)
     d->d = _d;
     Process *p = d->owner = _d->p;
     d->Inited = d->Started = false;
+    d->block = NULL;
 
     DFHack::VersionInfo * mem = p->getDescriptor();
     Server::Maps::maps_offsets &off = d->offsets;
diff --git a/tools/supported/reveal.cpp b/tools/supported/reveal.cpp
index 66ec3d92f..4233be189 100644
--- a/tools/supported/reveal.cpp
+++ b/tools/supported/reveal.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 using namespace std;
 
 #include <DFHack.h>
+#include <dfhack/modules/Gui.h>
 
 struct hideblock
 {
@@ -37,6 +38,16 @@ int main (void)
     }
     
     DFHack::Maps *Maps =DF->getMaps();
+    DFHack::Gui *Gui =DF->getGui();
+    // walk the map, save the hide bits, reveal.
+    cout << "Pausing..." << endl;
+
+    // horrible hack to make sure the pause is really set
+    Gui->SetPauseState(true);
+    DF->Resume();
+    usleep(100);
+    DF->Suspend();
+
     // init the map
     if(!Maps->Start())
     {
@@ -46,11 +57,12 @@ int main (void)
         #endif
         return 1;
     }
-    
+
+    cout << "Revealing, please wait..." << endl;
+
     Maps->getSize(x_max,y_max,z_max);
     vector <hideblock> hidesaved;
-    // walk the map, save the hide bits, reveal.
-    cout << "Revealing... please wait." << endl;
+
     for(uint32_t x = 0; x< x_max;x++)
     {
         for(uint32_t y = 0; y< y_max;y++)
@@ -80,8 +92,10 @@ int main (void)
     }
     // FIXME: force game pause here!
     DF->Detach();
-    cout << "Map revealed. Close window/force exit to keep it that way." << endl;
-    cout << "Press any key to unreveal. Don't close DF or unpause in that case!" << endl;
+    cout << "Map revealed. The game has been paused for you." << endl;
+    cout << "Unpausing can unleash the forces of hell!" << endl << endl;
+    cout << "Press any key to unreveal." << endl;
+    cout << "Close to keep the map revealed." << endl;
     cin.ignore();
     cout << "Unrevealing... please wait." << endl;
     // FIXME: do some consistency checks here!