diff --git a/src/connection.cpp b/src/connection.cpp
index bef89f8..48f2135 100644
--- a/src/connection.cpp
+++ b/src/connection.cpp
@@ -149,20 +149,30 @@ void ConnectionLoader::doAutoConnect()
     if (litelib_wallet_exists(Settings::getDefaultChainName().toStdString().c_str())) {
         qDebug() << __func__ << ": using existing wallet";
         main->logger->write(QObject::tr("Using existing wallet."));
-        char* resp = litelib_initialize_existing(
-            config->dangerous,
-            config->server.toStdString().c_str()
-        );
-        QString response = litelib_process_response(resp);
 
-        if (response.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
-            config->server = Settings::getRandomServer();
-
-            resp = litelib_initialize_existing(
+        QString response = "";
+        try {
+            char* resp = litelib_initialize_existing(
                 config->dangerous,
                 config->server.toStdString().c_str()
             );
             response = litelib_process_response(resp);
+        } catch (const std::exception& e)  {
+            qDebug() << __func__ << ": caught an exception, ignoring: " << e.what();
+        }
+
+        if (response.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
+            config->server = Settings::getRandomServer();
+
+            try {
+                char* resp = litelib_initialize_existing(
+                    config->dangerous,
+                    config->server.toStdString().c_str()
+                );
+                response = litelib_process_response(resp);
+            } catch (const std::exception& e)  {
+                qDebug() << __func__ << ": caught an exception, ignoring: " << e.what();
+            }
 
             if (response.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
                 QString resp = "Error when connecting to " + config->server + ": " + response;