diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5302fc1..6031859 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,6 +101,15 @@ Wake up / Next -> 04 and GND
 Previous -> 16 and GND
 ```
 
+## System sounds
+
+Place these sounds in the folder `system` on the SD card:
+
+* sleep.mp3
+* start.mp3
+
+sleep.mp3 will be played just before the timed shutdown, start.mp3 will be played if the box started and initialized successfully.
+
 
 ## TODOs
 * Card Reader with SPI. Configure hspi, second SPI channel? Or does SD Card + RFID run at the same channel?
diff --git a/sounds/sleep.mp3 b/sounds/sleep.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e3183a
Binary files /dev/null and b/sounds/sleep.mp3 differ
diff --git a/sounds/start.mp3 b/sounds/start.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..263b637
Binary files /dev/null and b/sounds/start.mp3 differ
diff --git a/src/DirectoryNode.cpp b/src/DirectoryNode.cpp
index 050d24b..5bbdb6e 100644
--- a/src/DirectoryNode.cpp
+++ b/src/DirectoryNode.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ void DirectoryNode::buildDirectoryTree(const char *currentPath)
         {
             break;
         }
-        if (entry.isDirectory())
+
+        if (entry.isDirectory() && strcmp(entry.name(),sys_dir.c_str()))
         {
             DirectoryNode *newNode = new DirectoryNode(entry.name());
             subdirectories.push_back(newNode);
diff --git a/src/DirectoryNode.h b/src/DirectoryNode.h
index 0716c4e..0859ef9 100644
--- a/src/DirectoryNode.h
+++ b/src/DirectoryNode.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include <SD.h>
 #include <vector>
 
+const String sys_dir = "system";
+
 class DirectoryNode {
 private:
   String name;
diff --git a/src/globals.h b/src/globals.h
index f7ae102..e2e056c 100644
--- a/src/globals.h
+++ b/src/globals.h
@@ -56,10 +56,29 @@ unsigned long lastStart = 0;
 
 unsigned long lastInteraction =  0;
 
+boolean sleepSoundPlayed = false;
+
+boolean startupSoundPlayed = false;
+
+boolean continuousMode = false;
+
 uint8_t buttontoignore = 0;
 
 const int startDelay = 250;
 
+const String sleep_sound = "sleep.mp3";
+
+const String startup_sound = "start.mp3";
+
+/*
+const long sleepMessageDelay = 28000;
+
+// wait until deep sleep:
+const long sleepDelay = 30000;
+*/
+
+const long sleepMessageDelay = 1798000;
+
 // wait until deep sleep:
 const long sleepDelay = 1800000;
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index e4b7ccf..e25f859 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@
 #include "css.h"
 #include "DirectoryNode.h"
 
+#define SOUND_STARTUP "start.mp3"
+#define SOUND_SLEEP "sleep.mp3"
+
+
+
+
 File root;
 File mp3File;
 
@@ -104,6 +110,11 @@ void playSongByName(String song)
   deactivateSD();
 }
 
+void playSongByPath(String path)
+{
+  playFile(path.c_str());
+}
+
 void playSongByRFID(String id)
 {
   String song = rfid_map[id];
@@ -128,6 +139,7 @@ bool playFile(const char *filename, uint32_t resumeFilePos)
 void playNextMp3()
 {
   stop();
+  continuousMode = true;
   if (currentNode == NULL)
   {
     currentNode = rootNode.findFirstDirectoryWithMP3s();
@@ -248,7 +260,8 @@ void next()
 void audio_eof_mp3(const char *info)
 {
   Serial.println("audio file ended.");
-  playNextMp3();
+  if (continuousMode)
+    playNextMp3();
 }
 
 /* not working, FIXME remove me! */
@@ -472,8 +485,24 @@ void loop()
     start();
   }
 
+  if (!startupSoundPlayed) {
+    startupSoundPlayed = true;
+    String tempPath = "/"+sys_dir+"/"+startup_sound;
+    playSongByPath(tempPath.c_str());
+  }
+
+
+
   // send device to sleep:
   long now = millis();
+
+  if (!sleepSoundPlayed && now - lastInteraction > sleepMessageDelay) {
+    sleepSoundPlayed = true;
+    String tempPath = "/"+sys_dir+"/"+sleep_sound;
+    playSongByPath(tempPath.c_str());
+  } 
+  
+  
   if (now - lastInteraction > sleepDelay) {
     Serial.println("entering deep sleep...");
     deactivateRFID();