diff --git a/case-lib/apause.exp b/case-lib/apause.exp
index 66fdec3d..e9abaaf7 100755
--- a/case-lib/apause.exp
+++ b/case-lib/apause.exp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ proc rel_time_ms {} {
 
 proc press_space {} {
     global last_space_time
-    log 2 "Pressing SPACE"
+    log 1 "Pressing SPACE"
     send " "
     set last_space_time [rel_time_ms]
     log 3 "last_space_time set to $last_space_time"
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ spawn  {*}$argv
 set start_time_ms [clock milliseconds]; # re-adjust
 set last_space_time 0 ; # could not resist that name
 
-# states: recording, pause_requested, paused, recording_requested
-set state recording_requested
+# states: active, pause_requested, paused, active_requested
+set state active_requested
 
 set in_max_burst false
 set volume_always_zero true
@@ -137,8 +137,20 @@ set volume_always_zero true
 
 expect {
 
+    # `man re_syntax` claims that Tcl regular expressions are compliant
+    # with the basic and extended POSIX ones while adding a 3rd,
+    # extended flavor.  It's not clear which flavor `expect -re` uses
+    # but it's not the basic one.
+    # Use {} not "" to avoid quoting issues and backslash proliferation.
+
     # When multiple patterns match, first pattern wins.
 
+    -nocase -re {error.*\r|PAUSE.*no[[:blank:]]*hw[[:blank:]]*support.*\r} {
+        set buffer_with_lf "[cr_to_lf $expect_out(buffer)]"
+        log 0 "ERROR: $buffer_with_lf"
+        exit 1
+    }
+
     # Volume xx% or MAX line
     #
     # When not backpressured by a sleeping (=bad!) Expect process,
@@ -182,13 +194,13 @@ expect {
 
         switch $state {
 
-            recording {
-                log 2 "Recording volume #... | xx%:\n[cr_to_lf $expect_out(buffer)]"
+            active {
+                log 2 "Volume #... | __%:\n[cr_to_lf $expect_out(buffer)]"
                 exp_continue
             }
 
             pause_requested {
-                log 2 "Volume #... | xx% left after requesting pause:\n[cr_to_lf $expect_out(buffer)]"
+                log 2 "Volume #... | __% left after requesting pause:\n[cr_to_lf $expect_out(buffer)]"
                 exp_continue
             }
 
@@ -198,12 +210,12 @@ expect {
                 exit 1
             }
 
-            recording_requested {
-                # First volume line printed since unpaused; recording successfully started!
-                set state recording
+            active_requested {
+                # First volume line printed since unpaused; stream successfully started!
+                set state active
 
                 set _record_for [rand_min_range $rnd_min $rnd_range]
-                log 1 "($pauses_counter/$repeat_count) Found volume ### | xx%, recording for $_record_for ms"
+                log 1 "($pauses_counter/$repeat_count) Found volume ### | __%, active for $_record_for ms"
 
                 set _delay [substract_time_since_last_space $_record_for]
                 after $_delay "press_space; set state pause_requested"
@@ -225,12 +237,8 @@ expect {
 
     {=== PAUSE ===} {
         if {$state != "pause_requested"} {
-            # TODO: upgrade this to an ERROR if we want to fix pause bugs like
-            # https://github.com/thesofproject/linux/issues/5109
-            # As of July 2024, pause is rather being disabled:
-            # https://github.com/thesofproject/linux/pull/5041
-            log 0 "WARNING: received == PAUSE == while in state $state! Ignoring."
-            exp_continue
+            log 0 "ERROR: received == PAUSE == while in state $state!"
+            exit 1
         }
 
         set state paused
@@ -241,7 +249,7 @@ expect {
         log 1 "($pauses_counter/$repeat_count) Found   === PAUSE ===  ,  pausing for $_pausing_for ms"
 
         set _delay [substract_time_since_last_space $_pausing_for]
-        after $_delay "press_space; set state recording_requested"
+        after $_delay "press_space; set state active_requested"
         log 3 "last_space_time=$last_space_time; timer in $_delay"