diff --git a/repo_sync.py b/repo_sync.py
index 1288761..96df829 100644
--- a/repo_sync.py
+++ b/repo_sync.py
@@ -40,10 +40,12 @@ def get_dirs():
 
 def ssh(remote_cmd: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     log(f'> {remote_cmd}')
-    return subprocess.run(
-        SSH_OPTS.split() + [CENTRAL, remote_cmd],
-        capture_output=True, text=True,
-    )
+    try:
+        return subprocess.check_output(
+            SSH_OPTS.split() + [CENTRAL, remote_cmd], text=True)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        log(f'error: {e.output}')
+        return None
 
 
 # ---------- rsync in both directions ----------
@@ -68,16 +70,23 @@ def restore() -> bool:
 
 
 def cmd_restore():
+    for _ in range(60):
+        try:
+            socket.gethostbyname(CENTRAL.split('@')[-1])
+            break
+        except Exception as e:
+            log(repr(e))
+        time.sleep(1)
     dorestore = f"{REMOTE_DIR}/do.restore"
-    if ssh(f"ls {dorestore}").returncode == 0:
+    if ssh(f"ls {dorestore}") is None:
+        log("no restore needed")
+    else:
         if restore():
             log("restore done")
             ssh(f"rm {dorestore}")
             return True
         else:
             log("restore failed")
-    else:
-        log("no restore needed")
 
 
 # ---------- watcher ----------