diff --git a/commands.py b/commands.py
index 4c6f025..67c76a4 100644
--- a/commands.py
+++ b/commands.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from glob import glob
 from configparser import ConfigParser
 
 from nicos import session, config
+from nicos.core import status
 from nicos.utils import printTable
 from nicos.commands import helparglist, usercommand
 from nicos.commands.basic import AddSetup, CreateAllDevices, CreateDevice
@@ -98,17 +99,16 @@ def frappy_start(**services):
         cfginfo = services.get(service)
         if cfginfo is None:
             if not secnode:
-               continue
+                continue
             cfginfo = secnode() or ''
-            all_cfg[service] = cfginfo
         else:
             if cfginfo:
                 new_cfg.append((service, secnode, cfginfo))
             else:
                 remove_cfg.append(secnode)
-            all_cfg[service] = cfginfo
             if secnode:
                 secnode('')
+        all_cfg[service] = secnode.get_info()
 
         # check cfg is not used twice
         for cfg in cfginfo.split(','):
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ def frappy_start(**services):
                 AddSetup('frappy_' + service)
                 secnode = session.devices[nodename]
             secnode(cfginfo)
+            all_cfg[service] = secnode.get_info()
             CreateDevice(nodename)
         cleanup_defunct()
         CreateAllDevices()
diff --git a/devices.py b/devices.py
index b177e7d..d7d7ec5 100644
--- a/devices.py
+++ b/devices.py
@@ -133,13 +133,8 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                     meaning_name, importance = meaning
                     sample_devices.setdefault(meaning_name, []).append((importance, devname))
 
-        envlist = list(session.experiment.envlist)
-        prev_env_alias = {}  # dict [devname] of aliasname of previous aliases in envlist
-        for devname in envlist:
-            dev = session.device.get(devname)
-            if isinstance(dev, DeviceAlias):
-                prev_env_alias[devname] = dev.alias
-        newenv = {}
+        newenv = {}  # to be added to envlist (dict [devname] of aliasname)
+        to_remove = set()  # items to be removed from previous envlist, if present
         for meaning in self.meanings:
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
             aliasnames = info.get('alias')
@@ -162,26 +157,23 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                     session.dynamic_devices[aliasname] = 'frappy'  # assign to frappy setup
                     aliasdev = previous_aliases.pop(aliasname, None)
                     if aliasdev:
-                        session.log.debug('change alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
+                        if aliasdev.alias != devname:
+                            session.log.debug('change alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
                     else:
                         session.log.debug('create alias %r -> %r', aliasname, devname)
                         aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
                     aliasdev.alias = devname
                 # only the first item of aliasnames is added to the envlist
                 aliasname = aliasnames[0]
-                if devname in envlist:
-                    envlist.remove(devname)
-                else:
-                    prev_alias = prev_env_alias[devname]
-                    if prev_alias in envlist:
-                        envlist.remove(prev_alias)
+                to_remove.add(devname)
+                to_remove.add(aliasname)
                 if devname not in newenv and info.get('envlist', True):
                     # example: when 'temperature' and 'temperature_regulation' are the
                     # same device, the first one is kept
                     newenv[devname] = aliasname
                 break
             else:
-                envlist = [k for k in envlist if k not in aliasnames]
+                to_remove.union(aliasnames)
 
         for aliasname in previous_aliases:
             session.destroyDevice(aliasname)
@@ -190,10 +182,14 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
 
         applyAliasConfig()  # for other aliases
 
-        envlist.extend(newenv.values())
-        if set(envlist) != set(session.experiment.envlist):
+        envlist = [k for k in session.experiment.envlist if k not in to_remove] + list(newenv.values())
+        if envlist != session.experiment.envlist:
+            removed = set(session.experiment.envlist).difference(envlist)
             session.experiment.setEnvironment(envlist)
-            session.log.info('changed environment to: %s', ', '.join(session.experiment.envlist))
+            if removed:
+                session.log.info('removed %s from environment', ', '.join(removed))
+            if newenv:
+                session.log.info('added %s to environment', ', '.join(newenv.values()))
 
 
 class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
@@ -313,3 +309,12 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
         if self._cache:
             self._cache.put(self, 'value', cfg)
         self._setROParam('target', cfg)
+
+    def get_info(self):
+        result = self.doRead() or ''
+        code, text = self.status()
+        if code == status.OK:
+            return result
+        if (code, text) == (status.ERROR, 'reconnecting'):
+            return '%s (frappy not running)' % result
+        return '%s (%s)' % (result, text)