diff --git a/devices.py b/devices.py
index 39c295a..5f5d5f7 100644
--- a/devices.py
+++ b/devices.py
@@ -148,23 +148,20 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
             createThread('frappy change notification', self.handle_notifications)
 
     def handle_notifications(self):
-        try:
-            controller = session.daemon_device._controller
-            while True:
-                self._trigger_change.wait()
-                self._trigger_change.clear()
-                time.sleep(2)
-                if self._trigger_change.is_set():
-                    continue
-                try:
-                    current = self.check_or_start()
-                    if current != self._previous_shown:
-                        cmd = 'frappy_changed()'
-                        controller.new_request(ScriptRequest(cmd, None, User('guest', USER)))
-                except RequestError as e:
-                    session.log.error(f'can not queue request {e!r}')
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(e)
+        controller = session.daemon_device._controller
+        while True:
+            self._trigger_change.wait()
+            self._trigger_change.clear()
+            time.sleep(2)
+            if self._trigger_change.is_set():
+                continue
+            try:
+                current = self.check_or_start()
+                if current != self._previous_shown:
+                    cmd = 'frappy_changed()'
+                    controller.new_request(ScriptRequest(cmd, None, User('guest', USER)))
+            except RequestError as e:
+                session.log.error(f'can not queue request {e!r}')
 
     def check_or_start(self, main=None, stick=None, addons=None):
         """start/stop  frappy servers
@@ -412,18 +409,7 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
         super().doInit(mode)
 
     def doRead(self, maxage=0):
-        try:
-            if self._secnode.online:
-                return self._secnode.descriptive_data['_frappy_config']
-        except (KeyError, AttributeError):
-            pass
-        if self._cfgvalue is None:
-            sea_cfg  = FrappyManager().cfg_from_sea(config.instrument).get(self.service)
-            if sea_cfg:
-                return sea_cfg
-            if self._cache:
-                self._cfgvalue = self._cache.get(self, 'value')
-        return self._cfgvalue
+        return self._cfgvalue or ''
 
     def createDevices(self):
         cfg = self.read()
@@ -441,7 +427,12 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
 
     def nodeStateChange(self, online, state):
         super().nodeStateChange(online, state)
-        if not online:
+        if online:
+            if self._cfgvalue is None:
+                self._cfgvalue = FrappyManager().get_cfg(config.instrument, self.service)
+                if not self._cfgvalue:
+                    self._cfgvalue = self.uri
+        else:
             self._cfgvalue = None
             cfg = self.read()
             if self._lastcfg != cfg:
@@ -472,10 +463,8 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
         ins = config.instrument
         fm = FrappyManager()
         info = fm.get_ins_info(ins)
-        cfginfo = {}
-        fm.get_procs(cfginfo=cfginfo)
-        running_cfg = cfginfo.get((ins, self.service), '')
-        if not forced:
+        running_cfg = fm.get_cfg(ins, self.service) or ''
+        if not forced or cfg is None:
             sea_cfg = fm.cfg_from_sea(ins).get(self.service, '')
             if '?' in sea_cfg:
                 if sea_cfg == '?':
@@ -486,9 +475,15 @@ class FrappyNode(SecNodeDevice, Moveable):
             elif sea_cfg:
                 cfg = sea_cfg
             elif running_cfg:
+                self._cfgvalue = running_cfg
                 return
             if cfg == running_cfg:
+                self._cfgvalue = running_cfg
                 return
+        if cfg is None:
+            if forced:
+                self.log.error('can not restart - previous cfg unknown')
+            return
         if cfg != running_cfg:
             self.disable()
         if running_cfg: