diff --git a/lib/HistoricSync.js b/lib/HistoricSync.js
index f6a29e2..2593690 100644
--- a/lib/HistoricSync.js
+++ b/lib/HistoricSync.js
@@ -35,9 +35,29 @@ function spec() {
   }
 
   HistoricSync.prototype.init = function(opts, cb) {
-    this.rpc = new RpcClient(config.bitcoind);
-    this.opts = opts;
-    this.sync.init(opts, cb);
+
+    var self = this;
+    self.rpc = new RpcClient(config.bitcoind);
+    self.opts = opts;
+    self.sync.init(opts, function(err) {
+      if (err) {
+        self.err = err.message;
+        self.syncInfo = util._extend(self.syncInfo, { error: err.message });
+        return cb(err);
+      }
+      else {
+        // check testnet?
+        self.rpc.getBlockHash(0, function(err, res){
+          if (!err && ( res && res.result !== self.genesis)) {
+            self.err = 'Bad genesis block. Network mismatch between Insight and bitcoind? Insight is configured for:' + config.network;
+            err = new Error(self.err);
+            self.syncInfo = util._extend(self.syncInfo, { error: err.message });
+          }
+          return cb(err);
+        });
+      }
+    });
+
   };
 
   HistoricSync.prototype.close = function() {
diff --git a/public/js/controllers/status.js b/public/js/controllers/status.js
index d4d4111..a350002 100644
--- a/public/js/controllers/status.js
+++ b/public/js/controllers/status.js
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ function($scope, $routeParams, $location, $rootScope, Global, Status, Sync, get_
   };
 
   var on_sync_update = function(sync) {
+
+    if (sync.error) {
+      $rootScope.syncError = sync.error;
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (sync.blocksToSync > sync.syncedBlocks) {
       var p = parseInt(100*(sync.syncedBlocks) / sync.blocksToSync);
       var delta = sync.blocksToSync - sync.syncedBlocks;
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index c2fde5f..a44d1ef 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -62,13 +62,19 @@ if (!config.disableHistoricSync) {
     shouldBroadcast: true,
     progressStep: 2,
     networkName: config.network
-  }, function() {
-    historicSync.smart_import(function(err){
-      var txt= 'ended.';
-      if (err) txt = 'ABORTED with error: ' + err.message;
+  }, function(err) {
+    if (err) {
+      var txt = 'ABORTED with error: ' + err.message;
+      console.log('[historic_sync] ' + txt);
+    }
+    else {
+      historicSync.smart_import(function(err){
+        var txt= 'ended.';
+        if (err) txt = 'ABORTED with error: ' + err.message;
 
-      console.log('[historic_sync] ' + txt, historicSync.syncInfo);
-    });
+        console.log('[historic_sync] ' + txt, historicSync.syncInfo);
+      });
+    }
   });
 }