diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index 18c915a5..ce81f032 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -124,9 +124,8 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         
         interface = Interface(config, True)
         wallet.interface = interface
-        interface.start()
-        if interface.is_connected:
-            interface.send([('server.peers.subscribe',[])])
+        interface.start(wait = False)
+        interface.send([('server.peers.subscribe',[])])
 
         gui = gui.ElectrumGui(wallet, config)
 
@@ -240,9 +239,8 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
             if not options.offline:
                 interface = Interface(config)
-                interface.start()
+                interface.start(wait=True)
                 wallet.interface = interface
-
                 verifier = WalletVerifier(interface, config)
                 wallet.set_verifier(verifier)
 
diff --git a/lib/interface.py b/lib/interface.py
index 83e3c860..59f205a6 100644
--- a/lib/interface.py
+++ b/lib/interface.py
@@ -586,10 +586,14 @@ class Interface(threading.Thread):
         return out
 
 
-    def start(self):
+    def start(self, wait=True):
         threading.Thread.start(self)
-        # wait until connection is established
-        self.connect_event.wait()
+        if wait:
+            # wait until connection is established
+            self.connect_event.wait()
+            if not self.is_connected:
+                print_msg("Not connected, aborting.")
+                sys.exit(1)
 
     def run(self):
         while True:
diff --git a/plugins/pointofsale.py b/plugins/pointofsale.py
index 508395ba..25dc04bf 100644
--- a/plugins/pointofsale.py
+++ b/plugins/pointofsale.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class QR_Window(QWidget):
         self.amount = 0
         self.setFocusPolicy(QtCore.Qt.NoFocus)
 
-        self.merchant_name = config.get('merchant_name', 'Invoice')
         main_box = QHBoxLayout()
         
         self.qrw = QRCodeWidget()
@@ -100,6 +99,7 @@ def get_info():
 
 def init(gui):
     gui.requested_amounts = gui.config.get('requested_amounts',{}) 
+    gui.merchant_name = gui.config.get('merchant_name', 'Invoice')
     gui.qr_window = None