diff --git a/src/devices/thermostat.cpp b/src/devices/thermostat.cpp
index 17c1c1ab9..b488eba3b 100644
--- a/src/devices/thermostat.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/thermostat.cpp
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ void Thermostat::register_mqtt_ha_config(uint8_t hc_num) {
     // for each of the heating circuits
     std::string topic2(100, '\0');
     snprintf_P(&topic2[0], topic2.capacity() + 1, PSTR("thermostat_hc%d"), hc_num);
-    register_mqtt_topic(topic2, [&](const char * m) { return thermostat_ha_cmd(m, hc_num); });
+    register_mqtt_topic(topic2, [=](const char * m) { return thermostat_ha_cmd(m, hc_num); });
 
     char hc_name[10]; // hc{1-4}
     strlcpy(hc_name, "hc", 10);
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ void Thermostat::register_mqtt_ha_config(uint8_t hc_num) {
 }
 
 // for HA specifically when receiving over MQTT in the thermostat topic
-// it could be either a 'mode' or a float value
+// it could be either a 'mode' or a float value for a temperature. we try brute force both and see which one works.
 // return true if it parses the message correctly
 bool Thermostat::thermostat_ha_cmd(const char * message, uint8_t hc_num) {
     // check if it's json. We know the message isn't empty