diff --git a/app/plugins/contactRetry.go b/app/plugins/contactRetry.go
index f12c09f..6a4f345 100644
--- a/app/plugins/contactRetry.go
+++ b/app/plugins/contactRetry.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"cwtch.im/cwtch/protocol/connections"
 	"git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/log"
 	"math"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ type contactRetry struct {
 	breakChan      chan bool
 	onion          string
 	lastCheck      time.Time
+	acnProgress    int
 
 	connections   sync.Map //[string]*contact
 	connCount     int
@@ -249,8 +251,6 @@ func (cr *contactRetry) run() {
 						}
 					}
 				}
-			case event.ProtocolEngineCreated:
-				cr.protocolEngine = true
 
 			case event.ProtocolEngineShutdown:
 				cr.ACNUp = false
@@ -265,22 +265,15 @@ func (cr *contactRetry) run() {
 					p.failedCount = 0
 					return true
 				})
+			case event.ProtocolEngineCreated:
+				cr.protocolEngine = true
+				cr.processStatus()
 
 			case event.ACNStatus:
-				prog := e.Data[event.Progress]
-				if !cr.protocolEngine {
-					continue
-				}
-				if prog == "100" && !cr.ACNUp {
-					cr.ACNUp = true
-					cr.ACNUpTime = time.Now()
-					cr.connections.Range(func(k, v interface{}) bool {
-						p := v.(*contact)
-						p.failedCount = 0
-						return true
-					})
-				} else if prog != "100" {
-					cr.ACNUp = false
+				progData := e.Data[event.Progress]
+				if prog, err := strconv.Atoi(progData); err == nil {
+					cr.acnProgress = prog
+					cr.processStatus()
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -294,6 +287,24 @@ func (cr *contactRetry) run() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (cr *contactRetry) processStatus() {
+	if !cr.protocolEngine {
+		cr.ACNUp = false
+		return
+	}
+	if cr.acnProgress == 100 && !cr.ACNUp {
+		cr.ACNUp = true
+		cr.ACNUpTime = time.Now()
+		cr.connections.Range(func(k, v interface{}) bool {
+			p := v.(*contact)
+			p.failedCount = 0
+			return true
+		})
+	} else if cr.acnProgress != 100 {
+		cr.ACNUp = false
+	}
+}
+
 func (cr *contactRetry) requeueReady() {
 	if !cr.ACNUp {
 		return
diff --git a/protocol/connections/engine.go b/protocol/connections/engine.go
index 9cd0872..a264f47 100644
--- a/protocol/connections/engine.go
+++ b/protocol/connections/engine.go
@@ -342,18 +342,20 @@ func (e *engine) Shutdown() {
 	// don't accept any more events...
 	e.queue.Publish(event.NewEvent(event.ProtocolEngineShutdown, map[event.Field]string{}))
 	e.service.Shutdown()
-
 	e.shuttingDown.Store(true)
-
 	e.ephemeralServicesLock.Lock()
 	defer e.ephemeralServicesLock.Unlock()
 	for _, connection := range e.ephemeralServices {
 		log.Infof("shutting down ephemeral service")
-		connection.connectingLock.Lock()
-		connection.service.Shutdown()
-		connection.connectingLock.Unlock()
-	}
+		// work around: service.shutdown() can block for a long time if it is Open()ing a new connection, putting it in a
+		//   goroutine means we can perform this operation and let the per service shutdown in their own time or until the app exits
+		go func() {
+			connection.connectingLock.Lock()
+			connection.service.Shutdown()
+			connection.connectingLock.Unlock()
 
+		}()
+	}
 	e.queue.Shutdown()
 }