diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index f00dfd6..1ee3d63 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -214,22 +214,24 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) :
             char* resp = litelib_initialize_new_from_phrase(config->dangerous, config->server.toStdString().c_str(),
                     seed.toStdString().c_str(), birthday, number);
             reply = litelib_process_response(resp);
-
-            if (reply.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
-                QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Failed to restore wallet"),
-                    tr("Couldn't restore the wallet") + "\n" + reply,
-                    QMessageBox::Ok);
-                return false;
-            }
         } catch (const std::exception& e)  {
-            //TODO: try another server with getRandomServer()
-            qDebug() << __func__ << ": caught an exception! Bailing out: " << e.what();
+            qDebug() << __func__ << ": caught an exception, ignoring: " << e.what();
+        }
+        if (reply.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
+                qDebug() << "Lite server " << config->server << " is down, getting a random one";
+                config->server = Settings::getRandomServer();
+                qDebug() << __func__ << ": new server is " << config->server;
+                // retry with the new server
+                char* resp = litelib_initialize_new(config->dangerous,config->server.toStdString().c_str());
+                reply = litelib_process_response(resp);
+        }
+
+        if (reply.toUpper().trimmed() != "OK") {
             QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Failed to restore wallet"),
-                tr("Couldn't restore the wallet") + "\n" + reply,
+                tr("Couldn't restore the wallet") + "\n" + "server=" + config->server "\n" + reply,
                 QMessageBox::Ok);
             return false;
         }
-
     }
 
     // 4. Finally attempt to save the wallet