diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index fd7290b..83c2caa 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	buildVersion   = "1.0.18"
+	buildVersion   = "1.0.19"
 	serviceName    = "hardlink"
 	customLayout   = "2006-01-02 15:04:05 -0700"
 	transactionUrl = "http://127.0.0.1:18181/start-transaction/"
@@ -107,67 +107,22 @@ func main() {
 	default:
 		lockConn, err := lockserver.InitializeServerConnection(config.LockserverUrl)
 		if err != nil {
-			fatalError(err)
+			fmt.Println(err.Error())
+			log.Errorf(err.Error())
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("Connected to the lock server successfuly at %s\n", config.LockserverUrl)
+			log.Infof("Connected to the lock server successfuly at %s", config.LockserverUrl)
+			lockConn.Close()
 		}
-		log.Infof("Connectting to lock server at %s", config.LockserverUrl)
-		lockConn.Close()
 	}
 
 	if config.IsPayment {
-		startClient := func() (*exec.Cmd, error) {
-			cmd := exec.Command("./ChipDNAClient/ChipDnaClient.exe")
-			err := cmd.Start()
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to start ChipDnaClient: %v", err)
-			}
-			log.Infof("ChipDnaClient started with PID %d", cmd.Process.Pid)
-			return cmd, nil
-		}
-
-		cmd, err := startClient()
-		if err != nil {
-			fatalError(err)
-		}
-
-		// Restart loop
-		go func() {
-			for {
-				err := cmd.Wait()
-				if err != nil {
-					log.Errorf("ChipDnaClient exited unexpectedly: %v", err)
-					time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
-					cmd, err = startClient()
-					if err != nil {
-						log.Errorf("Restart failed: %v", err)
-						return
-					}
-					log.Info("ChipDnaClient restarted successfully")
-				}
-			}
-		}()
-
-		// Handle shutdown signals
-		sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
-		signal.Notify(sigs, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
-		go func() {
-			<-sigs
-			log.Info("Shutting down...")
-			if cmd.Process != nil {
-				log.Info("Sending SIGTERM to ChipDnaClient...")
-				_ = cmd.Process.Signal(syscall.SIGTERM)
-				// wait up to 5s for graceful shutdown
-				done := make(chan error, 1)
-				go func() { done <- cmd.Wait() }()
-				select {
-				case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-					log.Warn("ChipDnaClient did not exit in time, killing...")
-					_ = cmd.Process.Kill()
-				case err := <-done:
-					log.Infof("ChipDnaClient exited cleanly: %v", err)
-				}
-			}
-			os.Exit(0)
-		}()
+		fmt.Println("Payment processing is enabled")
+		log.Info("Payment processing is enabled")
+		startChipDnaClient()
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println("Payment processing is disabled")
+		log.Info("Payment processing is disabled")
 	}
 
 	// Create App and wire routes
@@ -529,3 +484,60 @@ func readTicketLayout() printer.LayoutOptions {
 
 	return layout
 }
+
+func startChipDnaClient() {
+	startClient := func() (*exec.Cmd, error) {
+		cmd := exec.Command("./ChipDNAClient/ChipDnaClient.exe")
+		err := cmd.Start()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to start ChipDnaClient: %v", err)
+		}
+		log.Infof("ChipDnaClient started with PID %d", cmd.Process.Pid)
+		return cmd, nil
+	}
+
+	cmd, err := startClient()
+	if err != nil {
+		fatalError(err)
+	}
+
+	// Restart loop
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			err := cmd.Wait()
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Errorf("ChipDnaClient exited unexpectedly: %v", err)
+				time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+				cmd, err = startClient()
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Errorf("Restart failed: %v", err)
+					return
+				}
+				log.Info("ChipDnaClient restarted successfully")
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// Handle shutdown signals
+	sigs := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(sigs, syscall.SIGINT, syscall.SIGTERM)
+	go func() {
+		<-sigs
+		log.Info("Shutting down...")
+		if cmd.Process != nil {
+			log.Info("Sending SIGTERM to ChipDnaClient...")
+			_ = cmd.Process.Signal(syscall.SIGTERM)
+			// wait up to 5s for graceful shutdown
+			done := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() { done <- cmd.Wait() }()
+			select {
+			case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+				log.Warn("ChipDnaClient did not exit in time, killing...")
+				_ = cmd.Process.Kill()
+			case err := <-done:
+				log.Infof("ChipDnaClient exited cleanly: %v", err)
+			}
+		}
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}()
+}
diff --git a/release notes.md b/release notes.md
index 49c379b..a0d1cec 100644
--- a/release notes.md	
+++ b/release notes.md	
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 builtVersion is a const in main.go
 
+#### 1.0.19 - 10 September 2025
+allowed to continue if the connection to the lock server fails at startup
+
 #### 1.0.18 - 04 September 2025
 increased timeout for TLJ lock server connection to 30 seconds