diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 4a0bce5103..0e873cbb70 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -867,7 +867,11 @@ bool setupEssentials(int& argc, char** argv, bool runningMarkerExisted) {
     DependencyManager::set<ScriptCache>();
     DependencyManager::set<SoundCache>();
     DependencyManager::set<SoundCacheScriptingInterface>();
+    
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
     DependencyManager::set<DdeFaceTracker>();
+#endif
+    
     DependencyManager::set<EyeTracker>();
     DependencyManager::set<AudioClient>();
     DependencyManager::set<AudioScope>();
@@ -3324,7 +3328,9 @@ void Application::onDesktopRootContextCreated(QQmlContext* surfaceContext) {
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("AccountServices", AccountServicesScriptingInterface::getInstance());
 
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("DialogsManager", _dialogsManagerScriptingInterface);
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("FaceTracker", DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>().data());
+#endif
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("AvatarManager", DependencyManager::get<AvatarManager>().data());
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("LODManager", DependencyManager::get<LODManager>().data());
     surfaceContext->setContextProperty("HMD", DependencyManager::get<HMDScriptingInterface>().data());
@@ -5176,7 +5182,11 @@ ivec2 Application::getMouse() const {
 FaceTracker* Application::getActiveFaceTracker() {
     auto dde = DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>();
 
-    return dde->isActive() ? static_cast<FaceTracker*>(dde.data()) : nullptr;
+    if (dde && dde->isActive()) {
+        return static_cast<FaceTracker*>(dde.data());
+    }
+
+    return nullptr;
 }
 
 FaceTracker* Application::getSelectedFaceTracker() {
@@ -7010,7 +7020,10 @@ void Application::copyDisplayViewFrustum(ViewFrustum& viewOut) const {
 // feature.  However, we still use this to reset face trackers, eye trackers, audio and to optionally re-load the avatar
 // rig and animations from scratch.
 void Application::resetSensors(bool andReload) {
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
     DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>()->reset();
+#endif
+    
     DependencyManager::get<EyeTracker>()->reset();
     _overlayConductor.centerUI();
     getActiveDisplayPlugin()->resetSensors();
@@ -7402,8 +7415,10 @@ void Application::registerScriptEngineWithApplicationServices(ScriptEnginePointe
     scriptEngine->registerGlobalObject("AccountServices", AccountServicesScriptingInterface::getInstance());
     qScriptRegisterMetaType(scriptEngine.data(), DownloadInfoResultToScriptValue, DownloadInfoResultFromScriptValue);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
     scriptEngine->registerGlobalObject("FaceTracker", DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>().data());
-
+#endif
+    
     scriptEngine->registerGlobalObject("AvatarManager", DependencyManager::get<AvatarManager>().data());
 
     scriptEngine->registerGlobalObject("LODManager", DependencyManager::get<LODManager>().data());
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.h b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.h
index 0ad8d85c62..dc451134f0 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.h
+++ b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.h
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@
 
 #include <QtCore/QtGlobal>
 
+//Disabling dde due to random crashes with closing the socket on macos. all the accompanying code is wrapped with the ifdef HAVE_DDE. uncomment the define below to enable
 #if defined(Q_OS_WIN) || defined(Q_OS_OSX)
-    #define HAVE_DDE
+    //#define HAVE_DDE
 #endif
 
 #include <QProcess>
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp b/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
index fb7b0ef993..e0505770f5 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void setupPreferences() {
         auto setter = [](bool value) { qApp->setSettingConstrainToolbarPosition(value); };
         preferences->addPreference(new CheckPreference(UI_CATEGORY, "Constrain Toolbar Position to Horizontal Center", getter, setter));
     }
-	
+
     {
         auto getter = []()->bool { return qApp->getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(); };
         auto setter = [](bool value) { qApp->setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(value); };
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ void setupPreferences() {
                                 "installation and system details, and crash events. By allowing High Fidelity to collect "
                                 "this information you are helping to improve the product. ", getter, setter));
     }
-    
+
     static const QString AVATAR_TUNING { "Avatar Tuning" };
     {
         auto getter = [myAvatar]()->QString { return myAvatar->getDominantHand(); };
@@ -247,8 +247,8 @@ void setupPreferences() {
         preference->setStep(0.05f);
         preference->setDecimals(2);
         preferences->addPreference(preference);
-        
-        // When the Interface is first loaded, this section setupPreferences(); is loaded - 
+
+        // When the Interface is first loaded, this section setupPreferences(); is loaded -
         // causing the myAvatar->getDomainMinScale() and myAvatar->getDomainMaxScale() to get set to incorrect values
         // which can't be changed across domain switches. Having these values loaded up when you load the Dialog each time
         // is a way around this, therefore they're not specified here but in the QML.
@@ -271,10 +271,14 @@ void setupPreferences() {
 
     static const QString FACE_TRACKING{ "Face Tracking" };
     {
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
         auto getter = []()->float { return DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>()->getEyeClosingThreshold(); };
         auto setter = [](float value) { DependencyManager::get<DdeFaceTracker>()->setEyeClosingThreshold(value); };
         preferences->addPreference(new SliderPreference(FACE_TRACKING, "Eye Closing Threshold", getter, setter));
+#endif
     }
+
+
     {
         auto getter = []()->float { return FaceTracker::getEyeDeflection(); };
         auto setter = [](float value) { FaceTracker::setEyeDeflection(value); };
@@ -307,14 +311,14 @@ void setupPreferences() {
         preferences->addPreference(preference);
     }
     {
-        auto getter = [myAvatar]() -> bool { return myAvatar->hoverWhenUnsupported(); };
+        auto getter = [myAvatar]()->bool { return myAvatar->hoverWhenUnsupported(); };
         auto setter = [myAvatar](bool value) { myAvatar->setHoverWhenUnsupported(value); };
         auto preference = new CheckPreference(VR_MOVEMENT, "Hover When Unsupported", getter, setter);
         preferences->addPreference(preference);
     }
     {
         auto getter = [myAvatar]()->int { return myAvatar->getMovementReference(); };
-        auto setter = [myAvatar](int value) { myAvatar->setMovementReference(value);  };
+        auto setter = [myAvatar](int value) { myAvatar->setMovementReference(value); };
         //auto preference = new CheckPreference(VR_MOVEMENT, "Hand-Relative Movement", getter, setter);
         auto preference = new RadioButtonsPreference(VR_MOVEMENT, "Movement Direction", getter, setter);
         QStringList items;
@@ -520,6 +524,5 @@ void setupPreferences() {
             preference->setStep(10);
             preferences->addPreference(preference);
         }
-
     }
 }