diff --git a/interface/resources/qml/AvatarInputs.qml b/interface/resources/qml/AvatarInputs.qml
index 7888ffd967..49aeee3074 100644
--- a/interface/resources/qml/AvatarInputs.qml
+++ b/interface/resources/qml/AvatarInputs.qml
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ Hifi.AvatarInputs {
     Item {
         width: root.mirrorWidth
         height: 44
+        visible: !root.isHMD
 
         x: root.mirrorLeftPad
         y: root.mirrorVisible ? root.mirrorTopPad + root.mirrorHeight : 5
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/ApplicationOverlay.cpp b/interface/src/ui/ApplicationOverlay.cpp
index 03d6432104..b11e4c7a95 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/ApplicationOverlay.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/ApplicationOverlay.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void ApplicationOverlay::renderOverlay(RenderArgs* renderArgs) {
 
         // Now render the overlay components together into a single texture
         renderDomainConnectionStatusBorder(renderArgs); // renders the connected domain line
-        renderAudioScope(renderArgs); // audio scope in the very back
+        renderAudioScope(renderArgs); // audio scope in the very back - NOTE: this is the debug audio scope, not the VU meter
         renderRearView(renderArgs); // renders the mirror view selfie
         renderQmlUi(renderArgs); // renders a unit quad with the QML UI texture, and the text overlays from scripts
         renderOverlays(renderArgs); // renders Scripts Overlay and AudioScope
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ void ApplicationOverlay::renderRearViewToFbo(RenderArgs* renderArgs) {
 }
 
 void ApplicationOverlay::renderRearView(RenderArgs* renderArgs) {
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Mirror)) {
+    if (!qApp->isHMDMode() && Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Mirror)) {
         gpu::Batch& batch = *renderArgs->_batch;
 
         auto geometryCache = DependencyManager::get<GeometryCache>();
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.cpp b/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.cpp
index a9827a23c2..7b5f80ee80 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ void AvatarInputs::update() {
         && !Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::FullscreenMirror));
     AI_UPDATE(cameraEnabled, !Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::NoFaceTracking));
     AI_UPDATE(cameraMuted, Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::MuteFaceTracking));
+    AI_UPDATE(isHMD, qApp->isHMDMode());
 
     auto audioIO = DependencyManager::get<AudioClient>();
     const float AUDIO_METER_AVERAGING = 0.5;
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.h b/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.h
index 8ed4e8f163..36d3027a42 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.h
+++ b/interface/src/ui/AvatarInputs.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class AvatarInputs : public QQuickItem {
     AI_PROPERTY(float, audioLevel, 0)
     AI_PROPERTY(bool, mirrorVisible, false)
     AI_PROPERTY(bool, mirrorZoomed, true)
+    AI_PROPERTY(bool, isHMD, false)
 
 public:
     static AvatarInputs* getInstance();
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ signals:
     void audioLevelChanged();
     void mirrorVisibleChanged();
     void mirrorZoomedChanged();
+    void isHMDChanged();
 
 protected:
     Q_INVOKABLE void resetSensors();