diff --git a/server/brewpi.py b/server/brewpi.py
index 5d4b9ab..cfd84ee 100755
--- a/server/brewpi.py
+++ b/server/brewpi.py
@@ -17,15 +17,6 @@ from tasks import TaskManager, TempSensorTask, HeaterTask, PotTask, TcTask, Stir
 
 import argparse as ap
 
-# Default lumped thermal params, shared by both the real Pot plant and the
-# temperature controller's internal Smith-predictor model.
-DEFAULT_PLANT_PARAMS = {
-	"C": 4190,
-	"M": 25,
-	"L": 0.2,
-	"Td": 30
-}
-
 
 class Tee:
 	"""Duplicates writes to multiple streams - used to mirror stdout/stderr
@@ -70,6 +61,17 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 	theta_amb = config['ambient_temperature']
 	plant_sim = "sim" in config['Controller']['plant_name']
 
+	# Mash schedule - starts out empty; a client loads one of sude/*.json's
+	# several schedules onto it later (see components/sud.py's Sud). Also
+	# doubles as the source of baseline plant params for the Plant/
+	# Temperature Controller below, before any real schedule is loaded -
+	# derive_plant_params() falls back to Sud's own (generic) defaults
+	# while unloaded (see components/sud.py's EMPTY_SUD); water_mass=25
+	# is just a placeholder thermal mass standing in for "some water in
+	# the pot," not a literal recipe.
+	sud = Sud()
+	baseline_plant_params = sud.derive_plant_params(0, 25)
+
 	# Sensor
 	sensor = TempSensorFactory.create(config['Controller']['sensor_name'], temp_offset=-0.15, variance=0.01)
 	sensor_task = TempSensorTask(sensor, DT_TASK, dispatcher.msgio_get("Sensor"))
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
 	# Plant
 	pot = Pot(DT)
-	pot.set_plant_params(DEFAULT_PLANT_PARAMS)
+	pot.set_plant_params(baseline_plant_params)
 	pot.set_ambient_temperature(theta_amb)
 	taskmgr.add(PotTask(pot, DT_TASK, dispatcher.msgio_get("Pot")))
 
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 	# "Normal" has no internal model/ambient - see temp_controller.py vs.
 	# temp_controller_smith.py.
 	if hasattr(tc, 'set_model_plant_params'):
-		tc.set_model_plant_params(DEFAULT_PLANT_PARAMS)
+		tc.set_model_plant_params(baseline_plant_params)
 	if hasattr(tc, 'set_ambient_temperature'):
 		tc.set_ambient_temperature(theta_amb)
 	tc_task = TcTask(tc, DT_TASK, dispatcher.msgio_get("TempCtrl"))
@@ -104,9 +106,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 	stirrer_task = StirrerTask(stirrer, DT_TASK, dispatcher.msgio_get("Stirrer"))
 	taskmgr.add(stirrer_task)
 
-	# Mash schedule - starts out empty; a client loads one of sude/*.json's
-	# several schedules onto it later (see components/sud.py's Sud).
-	sud = Sud()
 	# Predicts how long a loaded schedule will actually take, by simulating
 	# it with the same kind of plant/controller (and params) as above -
 	# see components/sud_forecast.py.
diff --git a/tasks/sud.py b/tasks/sud.py
index ef24744..a9331b2 100644
--- a/tasks/sud.py
+++ b/tasks/sud.py
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ class SudTask(ATask):
 		from it (constant for the whole brew), while M/C also fold in the
 		step's grain_mass/water_mass, which vary over the brew's course
 		(malt going in, water boiling off) - mirrors demo_sud.py's
-		apply_plant_params()."""
+		apply_plant_params(). Called both on every real step transition
+		(via on_step_changed()) and once immediately on Load (see recv()),
+		so the controller's behavior already matches the expected plant
+		as soon as a Sud is loaded, not just once a run actually starts."""
 		params = self.sud.derive_plant_params(step.get('grain_mass', 0), step.get('water_mass', 0))
 		self.pot.set_plant_params(params)
 		if hasattr(self.tc, 'set_model_plant_params'):
@@ -258,6 +261,15 @@ class SudTask(ATask):
 				if self.sud.load(pair[1]):
 					await self.send({'Name': self.sud.name, 'Description': self.sud.description})
 					await self.send({'Json': pair[1]})
+					# on_step_changed() only re-applies plant params once a
+					# real step starts (Start) - apply them right away too,
+					# so the controller already matches this Sud's own pot/
+					# L/Td (and its first step's expected grain/water mass)
+					# from the moment it's loaded, rather than whatever the
+					# previously loaded Sud (or the generic startup
+					# baseline - see server/brewpi.py) left behind.
+					if self.sud.schedule:
+						self.apply_plant_params(self.sud.schedule[0])
 					await self.send_forecast(pair[1])
 				else:
 					# Sud.load() refuses while a run is in progress (state