diff --git a/Globals.cpp b/Globals.cpp
index 556f2c4c..fee1d26d 100644
--- a/Globals.cpp
+++ b/Globals.cpp
@@ -713,6 +713,10 @@ global_settings::ConfigParse(cParser &Parser) {
 			Parser.getTokens( 1 );
 			Parser >> extcam_cmd;
 		}
+		else if( token == "extcam.rec" ) {
+			Parser.getTokens( 1 );
+			Parser >> extcam_rec;
+		}
 		else if( token == "extcam.res" ) {
 			Parser.getTokens( 2 );
 			Parser >> extcam_res.x >> extcam_res.y;
diff --git a/Globals.h b/Globals.h
index 20ed16e4..cc8e19cb 100644
--- a/Globals.h
+++ b/Globals.h
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ struct global_settings {
 
 #ifdef USE_EXTCAM_CAMERA
 	std::string extcam_cmd;
+	std::string extcam_rec;
 	glm::ivec2 extcam_res{800, 600};
 #endif
 
diff --git a/driveruilayer.cpp b/driveruilayer.cpp
index fad3977e..85d7e30c 100644
--- a/driveruilayer.cpp
+++ b/driveruilayer.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ void driver_ui::render_menu_contents() {
 		ImGui::MenuItem(m_mappanel.name().c_str(), "Tab", &m_mappanel.is_open);
 		ImGui::MenuItem(m_vehiclelist.name().c_str(), nullptr, &m_vehiclelist.is_open);
 		ImGui::MenuItem(m_trainingcardpanel.name().c_str(), nullptr, &m_trainingcardpanel.is_open);
+		ImGui::MenuItem(m_cameraviewpanel.name().c_str(), nullptr, &m_cameraviewpanel.is_open);
 		if (DebugModeFlag)
 			ImGui::MenuItem(m_perfgraphpanel.name().c_str(), nullptr, &m_perfgraphpanel.is_open);
 
@@ -226,9 +227,12 @@ driver_ui::set_cursor( bool const Visible ) {
 void
 driver_ui::render_() {
 	const std::string *rec_name = m_trainingcardpanel.is_recording();
-	if (rec_name && !m_cameraviewpanel.is_open)
+	if (rec_name && m_cameraviewpanel.set_state(ui::cameraview_panel::RECORDING)) {
 		m_cameraviewpanel.rec_name = *rec_name;
-	m_cameraviewpanel.is_open = !!rec_name;
+	} else if (!rec_name && m_cameraviewpanel.is_open)
+		m_cameraviewpanel.set_state(ui::cameraview_panel::PREVIEW);
+	else if (!rec_name)
+		m_cameraviewpanel.set_state(ui::cameraview_panel::IDLE);
 
     // pause/quit modal
 	auto const popupheader { STR_C("Simulation Paused") };
diff --git a/widgets/cameraview_extcam.cpp b/widgets/cameraview_extcam.cpp
index a3ab8a5c..0d0a478b 100644
--- a/widgets/cameraview_extcam.cpp
+++ b/widgets/cameraview_extcam.cpp
@@ -27,31 +27,44 @@ ui::cameraview_panel::~cameraview_panel() {
 
 void ui::cameraview_panel::render()
 {
-	if (!is_open) {
+	if (!is_open && state != RECORDING) {
 		exit_thread = true;
-		return;
 	}
 
+	if (exit_thread) {
+		if (workthread.joinable())
+			workthread.join();
+		exit_thread = false;
+		if (state != IDLE && !Global.extcam_cmd.empty())
+			workthread = std::thread(&cameraview_panel::workthread_func, this);
+	}
+
+	if (!is_open)
+		return;
+
 	ImGui::SetNextWindowSizeConstraints(ImVec2(200, 200), ImVec2(2500, 2500), cameraview_window_callback);
 
 	auto const panelname{(title.empty() ? m_name : title) + "###" + m_name};
-	if (ImGui::Begin(panelname.c_str())) {
+	if (ImGui::Begin(panelname.c_str(), &is_open)) {
 		render_contents();
 	}
 
 	ImGui::End();
 }
 
+bool ui::cameraview_panel::set_state(state_e e)
+{
+	if (state != e) {
+		exit_thread = true;
+		state = e;
+		is_open = (state != IDLE);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 void ui::cameraview_panel::render_contents()
 {
-	if (exit_thread) {
-		if (workthread.joinable())
-			workthread.join();
-		exit_thread = false;
-		if (!Global.extcam_cmd.empty())
-			workthread = std::thread(&cameraview_panel::workthread_func, this);
-	}
-
 	if (!texture) {
 		texture.emplace();
 		texture->make_stub();
@@ -89,6 +102,8 @@ void ui::cameraview_panel::render_contents()
 void ui::cameraview_panel::workthread_func()
 {
 	std::string cmdline = Global.extcam_cmd;
+	if (state == RECORDING)
+		cmdline += " " + Global.extcam_rec;
 
 	if (!rec_name.empty()) {
 		const std::string magic{"{RECORD}"};
diff --git a/widgets/cameraview_extcam.h b/widgets/cameraview_extcam.h
index d65a1213..469f590f 100644
--- a/widgets/cameraview_extcam.h
+++ b/widgets/cameraview_extcam.h
@@ -11,12 +11,22 @@ namespace ui
 {
 class cameraview_panel : public ui_panel
 {
+public:
+	enum state_e {
+		IDLE,
+		PREVIEW,
+		RECORDING
+	};
+
+private:
 	std::atomic_bool exit_thread = true;
 	std::thread workthread;
 
 	uint8_t* image_ptr = nullptr;
 	std::mutex mutex;
 
+	state_e state = IDLE;
+
 	std::optional<opengl_texture> texture;
 
 	void workthread_func();
@@ -27,6 +37,7 @@ class cameraview_panel : public ui_panel
 
 	void render() override;
 	void render_contents() override;
+	bool set_state(state_e e);
 
 	std::string rec_name;
 };
diff --git a/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.cpp b/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.cpp
index f049a599..793bd5b7 100644
--- a/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.cpp
+++ b/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,16 @@ void ui::cameraview_panel::render()
 	ui_panel::render();
 }
 
+bool ui::cameraview_panel::set_state(state_e e)
+{
+	if (state != e) {
+		state = e;
+		is_open = (state != IDLE);
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 void ui::cameraview_panel::render_contents()
 {
 	if (exit_thread) {
diff --git a/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.h b/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.h
index 639db877..d49b1798 100644
--- a/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.h
+++ b/widgets/cameraview_vsdev.h
@@ -7,6 +7,14 @@ namespace ui
 {
 class cameraview_panel : public ui_panel
 {
+public:
+	enum state_e {
+		IDLE,
+		PREVIEW,
+		RECORDING
+	};
+
+private:
 	std::atomic_bool exit_thread = true;
 	std::thread workthread;
 
@@ -28,5 +36,6 @@ class cameraview_panel : public ui_panel
 
 	void render() override;
 	void render_contents() override;
+	bool set_state(state_e e);
 };
 } // namespace ui