diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
index b0c736f8..d17a1038 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ from chainlib.connection import RPCConnection
 from chainlib.eth.connection import EthUnixSignerConnection
 from chainlib.chain import ChainSpec
 from chainqueue.db.models.otx import Otx
+from cic_eth_registry.error import UnknownContractError
 import liveness.linux
 
+
 # local imports
 from cic_eth.eth import (
         erc20,
@@ -169,7 +171,11 @@ def main():
 
     rpc = RPCConnection.connect(chain_spec, 'default')
 
-    connect_registry(rpc, chain_spec, config.get('CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS'))
+    try:
+        connect_registry(rpc, chain_spec, config.get('CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS'))
+    except UnknownContractError as e:
+        logg.exception('Registry contract connection failed for {}: {}'.format(config.get('CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS'), e))
+        sys.exit(1)
 
     trusted_addresses_src = config.get('CIC_TRUST_ADDRESS')
     if trusted_addresses_src == None:
@@ -178,6 +184,7 @@ def main():
     trusted_addresses = trusted_addresses_src.split(',')
     for address in trusted_addresses:
         logg.info('using trusted address {}'.format(address))
+
     connect_declarator(rpc, chain_spec, trusted_addresses)
     connect_token_registry(rpc, chain_spec)