diff --git a/Tools/BiblioTech/BaseGethCommand.cs b/Tools/BiblioTech/BaseGethCommand.cs
index 49069953..104784cc 100644
--- a/Tools/BiblioTech/BaseGethCommand.cs
+++ b/Tools/BiblioTech/BaseGethCommand.cs
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@ namespace BiblioTech
     {
         protected override async Task Invoke(CommandContext context)
         {
-            var gethConnector = GethConnector.GethConnector.Initialize(Program.Log);
+            var gethConnector = GetGeth();
+            if (gethConnector == null)
+            {
+                await context.Followup("Blockchain operations are (temporarily) unavailable.");
+                return;
+            }
 
-            if (gethConnector == null) return;
             var gethNode = gethConnector.GethNode;
             var contracts = gethConnector.CodexContracts;
 
@@ -23,6 +27,19 @@ namespace BiblioTech
             await Execute(context, gethNode, contracts);
         }
 
+        private GethConnector.GethConnector? GetGeth()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                return GethConnector.GethConnector.Initialize(Program.Log);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                Program.Log.Error("Failed to initialize geth connector: " + ex);
+                return null;
+            }
+        }
+
         protected abstract Task Execute(CommandContext context, IGethNode gethNode, ICodexContracts contracts);
     }
 }