diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/node.py b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
index 3150a0226..73e639688 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/node.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class Node(object):
         # information from the DHT as soon as the node is part of the
         # network (add callbacks to this deferred if scheduling such
         # operations before the node has finished joining the network)
-        self._joinDeferred = None
+        self._joinDeferred = defer.Deferred(None)
         self.change_token_lc = task.LoopingCall(self.change_token)
         self.change_token_lc.clock = self.clock
         self.refresh_node_lc = task.LoopingCall(self._refreshNode)
@@ -164,6 +164,45 @@ class Node(object):
         if self.hash_watcher.lc.running:
             yield self.hash_watcher.stop()
 
+    def start_listening(self):
+        try:
+            self._listeningPort = self.reactor_listenUDP(self.port, self._protocol)
+            log.info("DHT node listening on %i", self.port)
+        except error.CannotListenError as e:
+            import traceback
+            log.error("Couldn't bind to port %d. %s", self.port, traceback.format_exc())
+            raise ValueError("%s lbrynet may already be running." % str(e))
+
+    def bootstrap_join(self, known_node_addresses, finished_d):
+        @defer.inlineCallbacks
+        def _resolve_seeds():
+            bootstrap_contacts = []
+            for node_address, port in known_node_addresses:
+                host = yield self.reactor_resolve(node_address)
+                # Create temporary contact information for the list of addresses of known nodes
+                contact = Contact(self._generateID(), host, port, self._protocol)
+                bootstrap_contacts.append(contact)
+            if not bootstrap_contacts:
+                if not self.hasContacts():
+                    log.warning("No known contacts!")
+                else:
+                    log.info("found contacts")
+                    bootstrap_contacts = self.contacts
+            defer.returnValue(bootstrap_contacts)
+
+        def _rerun(bootstrap_contacts):
+            if not bootstrap_contacts:
+                log.info("Failed to join the dht, re-attempting in 60 seconds")
+                self.reactor_callLater(60, self.bootstrap_join, known_node_addresses, finished_d)
+            elif not finished_d.called:
+                finished_d.callback(bootstrap_contacts)
+
+        log.info("Attempting to join the DHT network")
+        d = _resolve_seeds()
+        # Initiate the Kademlia joining sequence - perform a search for this node's own ID
+        d.addCallback(lambda contacts: self._iterativeFind(self.node_id, contacts))
+        d.addCallback(_rerun)
+
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def joinNetwork(self, known_node_addresses=None):
         """ Causes the Node to attempt to join the DHT network by contacting the
@@ -177,38 +216,16 @@ class Node(object):
         @type known_node_addresses: list
         """
 
-        try:
-            self._listeningPort = reactor.listenUDP(self.port, self._protocol)
-            log.info("DHT node listening on %i", self.port)
-        except error.CannotListenError as e:
-            import traceback
-            log.error("Couldn't bind to port %d. %s", self.port, traceback.format_exc())
-            raise ValueError("%s lbrynet may already be running." % str(e))
-
-        known_node_addresses = known_node_addresses or []
-        bootstrap_contacts = []
-        for node_address, port in known_node_addresses:
-            host = yield reactor.resolve(node_address)
-            # Create temporary contact information for the list of addresses of known nodes
-            contact = Contact(self._generateID(), host, port, self._protocol)
-            bootstrap_contacts.append(contact)
-
-        log.info("Attempting to join the DHT network")
-
-        # Initiate the Kademlia joining sequence - perform a search for this node's own ID
-        self._joinDeferred = self._iterativeFind(self.node_id, bootstrap_contacts)
+        self.start_listening()
         #        #TODO: Refresh all k-buckets further away than this node's closest neighbour
         # Start refreshing k-buckets periodically, if necessary
-        self.hash_watcher.tick()
+        self.bootstrap_join(known_node_addresses or [], self._joinDeferred)
         yield self._joinDeferred
         self.hash_watcher.start()
-
         self.change_token_lc.start(constants.tokenSecretChangeInterval)
         self.refresh_node_lc.start(constants.checkRefreshInterval)
         self.hash_announcer.run_manage_loop()
 
-        #TODO: re-attempt joining the network if it fails
-
     @property
     def contacts(self):
         def _inner():