just force them to update always, it's pretty much what tg does

code/datums/action.dm

@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
 
 /datum/action/proc/OnUpdatedIcon()
 	SIGNAL_HANDLER
-	UpdateButtons()
+	UpdateButtons(force = TRUE)
 
 //Give our action button to the player
 /datum/action/proc/GiveAction(mob/viewer)
@@ -267,12 +267,10 @@
 /datum/action/item_action/toggle_light
 	name = "Toggle Light"
 
-/datum/action/item_action/toggle_light/Trigger(trigger_flags)
+/datum/action/item_action/toggle_light/pda/Trigger(trigger_flags)
 	if(istype(target, /obj/item/pda))
 		var/obj/item/pda/P = target
-		P.toggle_light(owner)
-		return
-	..()
+		return P.toggle_light(owner)
 
 /datum/action/item_action/toggle_hood
 	name = "Toggle Hood"

code/game/atoms.dm

@@ -613,7 +613,10 @@
 			cut_overlay(managed_overlays)
 			managed_overlays = null
 		if(length(new_overlays))
-			managed_overlays = new_overlays
+			if (length(new_overlays) == 1)
+				managed_overlays = new_overlays[1]
+			else
+				managed_overlays = new_overlays
 			add_overlay(new_overlays)
 		. |= UPDATE_OVERLAYS
 

code/game/objects/items/devices/PDA/PDA.dm

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(PDAs)
 	item_flags = NOBLUDGEON
 	w_class = WEIGHT_CLASS_TINY
 	slot_flags = ITEM_SLOT_ID | ITEM_SLOT_BELT
-	actions_types = list(/datum/action/item_action/toggle_light)
+	actions_types = list(/datum/action/item_action/toggle_light/pda)
 	armor = list(MELEE = 0, BULLET = 0, LASER = 0, ENERGY = 0, BOMB = 0, BIO = 0, RAD = 0, FIRE = 100, ACID = 100)
 	resistance_flags = FIRE_PROOF | ACID_PROOF
 
@@ -963,7 +963,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(PDAs)
 
 /obj/item/pda/proc/toggle_light()
 	if(hasSiliconAccessInArea(usr) || !usr.canUseTopic(src, BE_CLOSE))
-		return
+		return FALSE
 	if(fon)
 		fon = FALSE
 		set_light(0)
@@ -971,6 +971,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(PDAs)
 		fon = TRUE
 		set_light(f_lum, f_pow, f_col)
 	update_icon()
+	return TRUE
 
 /obj/item/pda/proc/remove_pen()