diff --git a/cmd/ytsync.go b/cmd/ytsync.go
index d5284bb..35fa489 100644
--- a/cmd/ytsync.go
+++ b/cmd/ytsync.go
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ func ytSync(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	apiToken := os.Getenv("LBRY_API_TOKEN")
 	youtubeAPIKey := os.Getenv("YOUTUBE_API_KEY")
 	blobsDir := os.Getenv("BLOBS_DIRECTORY")
+	lbrycrdString := os.Getenv("LBRYCRD_STRING")
+	awsS3ID := os.Getenv("AWS_S3_ID")
+	awsS3Secret := os.Getenv("AWS_S3_SECRET")
+	awsS3Region := os.Getenv("AWS_S3_REGION")
+	awsS3Bucket := os.Getenv("AWS_S3_BUCKET")
 	if apiURL == "" {
 		log.Errorln("An API URL was not defined. Please set the environment variable LBRY_API")
 		return
@@ -106,6 +111,25 @@ func ytSync(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		log.Errorln("A Youtube API key was not defined. Please set the environment variable YOUTUBE_API_KEY")
 		return
 	}
+	if awsS3ID == "" {
+		log.Errorln("AWS S3 ID credentials were not defined. Please set the environment variable AWS_S3_ID")
+		return
+	}
+	if awsS3Secret == "" {
+		log.Errorln("AWS S3 Secret credentials were not defined. Please set the environment variable AWS_S3_SECRET")
+		return
+	}
+	if awsS3Region == "" {
+		log.Errorln("AWS S3 Region was not defined. Please set the environment variable AWS_S3_REGION")
+		return
+	}
+	if awsS3Bucket == "" {
+		log.Errorln("AWS S3 Bucket was not defined. Please set the environment variable AWS_S3_BUCKET")
+		return
+	}
+	if lbrycrdString == "" {
+		log.Infoln("Using default (local) lbrycrd instance. Set LBRYCRD_STRING if you want to use something else")
+	}
 	if blobsDir == "" {
 		usr, err := user.Current()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -136,6 +160,11 @@ func ytSync(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		BlobsDir:                blobsDir,
 		VideosLimit:             videosLimit,
 		MaxVideoSize:            maxVideoSize,
+		LbrycrdString:           lbrycrdString,
+		AwsS3ID:                 awsS3ID,
+		AwsS3Secret:             awsS3Secret,
+		AwsS3Region:             awsS3Region,
+		AwsS3Bucket:             awsS3Bucket,
 	}
 
 	err := sm.Start()
diff --git a/ytsync/manager.go b/ytsync/manager.go
index 9e72d90..0827344 100644
--- a/ytsync/manager.go
+++ b/ytsync/manager.go
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ type SyncManager struct {
 	BlobsDir                string
 	VideosLimit             int
 	MaxVideoSize            int
+	LbrycrdString           string
+	AwsS3ID                 string
+	AwsS3Secret             string
+	AwsS3Region             string
+	AwsS3Bucket             string
 }
 
 const (
@@ -154,6 +159,10 @@ func (s SyncManager) MarkVideoStatus(channelID string, videoID string, status st
 		vals.Add("claim_name", claimName)
 	}
 	if failureReason != "" {
+		maxReasonLength := 500
+		if len(failureReason) > maxReasonLength {
+			failureReason = failureReason[:500]
+		}
 		vals.Add("failure_reason", failureReason)
 	}
 	res, _ := http.PostForm(endpoint, vals)
@@ -212,6 +221,11 @@ func (s SyncManager) Start() error {
 				TakeOverExistingChannel: s.TakeOverExistingChannel,
 				Refill:                  s.Refill,
 				Manager:                 &s,
+				LbrycrdString:           s.LbrycrdString,
+				AwsS3ID:                 s.AwsS3ID,
+				AwsS3Secret:             s.AwsS3Secret,
+				AwsS3Region:             s.AwsS3Region,
+				AwsS3Bucket:             s.AwsS3Bucket,
 			}
 			shouldInterruptLoop = true
 		} else {
@@ -242,6 +256,11 @@ func (s SyncManager) Start() error {
 						TakeOverExistingChannel: s.TakeOverExistingChannel,
 						Refill:                  s.Refill,
 						Manager:                 &s,
+						LbrycrdString:           s.LbrycrdString,
+						AwsS3ID:                 s.AwsS3ID,
+						AwsS3Secret:             s.AwsS3Secret,
+						AwsS3Region:             s.AwsS3Region,
+						AwsS3Bucket:             s.AwsS3Bucket,
 					})
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/ytsync/setup.go b/ytsync/setup.go
index 7a40ccd..afaa0af 100644
--- a/ytsync/setup.go
+++ b/ytsync/setup.go
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ func (s *Sync) ensureEnoughUTXOs() error {
 	}
 
 	target := 40
+	slack := int(float32(0.1) * float32(target))
 	count := 0
 
 	for _, utxo := range *utxolist {
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ func (s *Sync) ensureEnoughUTXOs() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if count < target {
+	if count < target-slack {
 		newAddresses := target - count
 
 		balance, err := s.daemon.WalletBalance()
@@ -257,9 +258,18 @@ func allUTXOsConfirmed(utxolist *jsonrpc.UTXOListResponse) bool {
 
 func (s *Sync) addCredits(amountToAdd float64) error {
 	log.Printf("Adding %f credits", amountToAdd)
-	lbrycrdd, err := lbrycrd.NewWithDefaultURL()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	var lbrycrdd *lbrycrd.Client
+	var err error
+	if s.LbrycrdString == "" {
+		lbrycrdd, err = lbrycrd.NewWithDefaultURL()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else {
+		lbrycrdd, err = lbrycrd.New(s.LbrycrdString)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	addressResp, err := s.daemon.WalletUnusedAddress()
@@ -280,6 +290,4 @@ func (s *Sync) addCredits(amountToAdd float64) error {
 	time.Sleep(wait)
 
 	return nil
-	//log.Println("Waiting for transaction to be confirmed")
-	//return s.waitUntilUTXOsConfirmed()
 }
diff --git a/ytsync/ytsync.go b/ytsync/ytsync.go
index c44d9c6..b01e974 100644
--- a/ytsync/ytsync.go
+++ b/ytsync/ytsync.go
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/awserr"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/credentials"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/s3"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/s3/s3manager"
 	"github.com/lbryio/lbry.go/errors"
 	"github.com/lbryio/lbry.go/jsonrpc"
 	"github.com/lbryio/lbry.go/stop"
@@ -60,6 +66,11 @@ type Sync struct {
 	TakeOverExistingChannel bool
 	Refill                  int
 	Manager                 *SyncManager
+	LbrycrdString           string
+	AwsS3ID                 string
+	AwsS3Secret             string
+	AwsS3Region             string
+	AwsS3Bucket             string
 
 	daemon          *jsonrpc.Client
 	claimAddress    string
@@ -114,6 +125,97 @@ func (s *Sync) IsInterrupted() bool {
 	}
 }
 
+func (s *Sync) downloadWallet() error {
+	defaultWalletDir := os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum/wallets/default_wallet"
+	defaultTempWalletDir := os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum/wallets/tmp_wallet"
+	key := aws.String("/wallets/" + s.YoutubeChannelID)
+	if os.Getenv("REGTEST") == "true" {
+		defaultWalletDir = os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum_regtest/wallets/default_wallet"
+		defaultTempWalletDir = os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum_regtest/wallets/tmp_wallet"
+		key = aws.String("/regtest/" + s.YoutubeChannelID)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(defaultWalletDir); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return errors.Err("default_wallet already exists")
+	}
+
+	creds := credentials.NewStaticCredentials(s.AwsS3ID, s.AwsS3Secret, "")
+	s3Session, err := session.NewSession(&aws.Config{Region: aws.String(s.AwsS3Region), Credentials: creds})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	downloader := s3manager.NewDownloader(s3Session)
+	out, err := os.Create(defaultTempWalletDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer out.Close()
+
+	bytesWritten, err := downloader.Download(out, &s3.GetObjectInput{
+		Bucket: aws.String(s.AwsS3Bucket),
+		Key:    key,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		// Casting to the awserr.Error type will allow you to inspect the error
+		// code returned by the service in code. The error code can be used
+		// to switch on context specific functionality. In this case a context
+		// specific error message is printed to the user based on the bucket
+		// and key existing.
+		//
+		// For information on other S3 API error codes see:
+		// http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/API/ErrorResponses.html
+		if aerr, ok := err.(awserr.Error); ok {
+			code := aerr.Code()
+			if code == s3.ErrCodeNoSuchKey {
+				return errors.Err("wallet not on S3")
+			}
+		}
+		return err
+	} else if bytesWritten == 0 {
+		return errors.Err("zero bytes written")
+	}
+
+	return os.Rename(defaultTempWalletDir, defaultWalletDir)
+}
+
+func (s *Sync) uploadWallet() error {
+	defaultWalletDir := os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum/wallets/default_wallet"
+	key := aws.String("/wallets/" + s.YoutubeChannelID)
+	if os.Getenv("REGTEST") == "true" {
+		defaultWalletDir = os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum_regtest/wallets/default_wallet"
+		key = aws.String("/regtest/" + s.YoutubeChannelID)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := os.Stat(defaultWalletDir); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return errors.Err("default_wallet does not exist")
+	}
+
+	creds := credentials.NewStaticCredentials(s.AwsS3ID, s.AwsS3Secret, "")
+	s3Session, err := session.NewSession(&aws.Config{Region: aws.String(s.AwsS3Region), Credentials: creds})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	uploader := s3manager.NewUploader(s3Session)
+
+	file, err := os.Open(defaultWalletDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer file.Close()
+
+	_, err = uploader.Upload(&s3manager.UploadInput{
+		Bucket: aws.String(s.AwsS3Bucket),
+		Key:    key,
+		Body:   file,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return os.Remove(defaultWalletDir)
+}
+
 func (s *Sync) FullCycle() (e error) {
 	if os.Getenv("HOME") == "" {
 		return errors.Err("no $HOME env var found")
@@ -141,67 +243,18 @@ func (s *Sync) FullCycle() (e error) {
 	s.syncedVideos = syncedVideos
 	s.syncedVideosMux.Unlock()
 
-	defer func() {
-		if e != nil {
-			//conditions for which a channel shouldn't be marked as failed
-			noFailConditions := []string{
-				"this youtube channel is being managed by another server",
-			}
-			if util.SubstringInSlice(e.Error(), noFailConditions) {
-				return
-			}
-			_, err := s.Manager.setChannelStatus(s.YoutubeChannelID, StatusFailed)
-			if err != nil {
-				msg := fmt.Sprintf("Failed setting failed state for channel %s.", s.LbryChannelName)
-				err = errors.Prefix(msg, err)
-				e = errors.Prefix(err.Error(), e)
-			}
-		} else if !s.IsInterrupted() {
-			_, err := s.Manager.setChannelStatus(s.YoutubeChannelID, StatusSynced)
-			if err != nil {
-				e = err
-			}
-		}
-	}()
+	defer s.updateChannelStatus(&e)
 
-	defaultWalletDir := os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum/wallets/default_wallet"
-	if os.Getenv("REGTEST") == "true" {
-		defaultWalletDir = os.Getenv("HOME") + "/.lbryum_regtest/wallets/default_wallet"
-	}
-	walletBackupDir := os.Getenv("HOME") + "/wallets/" + strings.Replace(s.LbryChannelName, "@", "", 1)
-
-	if _, err := os.Stat(defaultWalletDir); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return errors.Err("default_wallet already exists")
-	}
-
-	if _, err = os.Stat(walletBackupDir); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		err = os.Rename(walletBackupDir, defaultWalletDir)
-		if err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err, 0)
-		}
+	err = s.downloadWallet()
+	if err != nil && err.Error() != "wallet not on S3" {
+		return errors.Prefix("failure in downloading wallet: ", err)
+	} else if err == nil {
 		log.Println("Continuing previous upload")
+	} else {
+		log.Println("Starting new wallet")
 	}
 
-	defer func() {
-		log.Printf("Stopping daemon")
-		shutdownErr := stopDaemonViaSystemd()
-		if shutdownErr != nil {
-			logShutdownError(shutdownErr)
-		} else {
-			// the cli will return long before the daemon effectively stops. we must observe the processes running
-			// before moving the wallet
-			waitTimeout := 8 * time.Minute
-			processDeathError := waitForDaemonProcess(waitTimeout)
-			if processDeathError != nil {
-				logShutdownError(processDeathError)
-			} else {
-				walletErr := os.Rename(defaultWalletDir, walletBackupDir)
-				if walletErr != nil {
-					log.Errorf("error moving wallet to backup dir: %v", walletErr)
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}()
+	defer s.stopAndUploadWallet(&e)
 
 	s.videoDirectory, err = ioutil.TempDir("", "ytsync")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -218,18 +271,9 @@ func (s *Sync) FullCycle() (e error) {
 	s.daemon = jsonrpc.NewClient("")
 	s.daemon.SetRPCTimeout(40 * time.Minute)
 
-WaitForDaemonStart:
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-s.grp.Ch():
-			return nil
-		default:
-			_, err := s.daemon.WalletBalance()
-			if err == nil {
-				break WaitForDaemonStart
-			}
-			time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
-		}
+	err = s.waitForDaemonStart()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	err = s.doSync()
@@ -244,6 +288,69 @@ WaitForDaemonStart:
 
 	return nil
 }
+func (s *Sync) updateChannelStatus(e *error) {
+	if *e != nil {
+		//conditions for which a channel shouldn't be marked as failed
+		noFailConditions := []string{
+			"this youtube channel is being managed by another server",
+		}
+		if util.SubstringInSlice((*e).Error(), noFailConditions) {
+			return
+		}
+		_, err := s.Manager.setChannelStatus(s.YoutubeChannelID, StatusFailed)
+		if err != nil {
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("Failed setting failed state for channel %s.", s.LbryChannelName)
+			err = errors.Prefix(msg, err)
+			*e = errors.Prefix(err.Error(), *e)
+		}
+	} else if !s.IsInterrupted() {
+		_, err := s.Manager.setChannelStatus(s.YoutubeChannelID, StatusSynced)
+		if err != nil {
+			*e = err
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *Sync) waitForDaemonStart() error {
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-s.grp.Ch():
+			return errors.Err("interrupted during daemon startup")
+		default:
+			_, err := s.daemon.WalletBalance()
+			if err == nil {
+				return nil
+			}
+			time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+		}
+	}
+}
+func (s *Sync) stopAndUploadWallet(e *error) {
+	log.Printf("Stopping daemon")
+	shutdownErr := stopDaemonViaSystemd()
+	if shutdownErr != nil {
+		logShutdownError(shutdownErr)
+	} else {
+		// the cli will return long before the daemon effectively stops. we must observe the processes running
+		// before moving the wallet
+		waitTimeout := 8 * time.Minute
+		processDeathError := waitForDaemonProcess(waitTimeout)
+		if processDeathError != nil {
+			logShutdownError(processDeathError)
+		} else {
+			err := s.uploadWallet()
+			if err != nil {
+				if *e == nil {
+					e = &err
+					return
+				} else {
+					*e = errors.Prefix("failure uploading wallet: ", e)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
 func logShutdownError(shutdownErr error) {
 	SendErrorToSlack("error shutting down daemon: %v", shutdownErr)
 	SendErrorToSlack("WALLET HAS NOT BEEN MOVED TO THE WALLET BACKUP DIR")
@@ -316,6 +423,7 @@ func (s *Sync) startWorker(workerNum int) {
 					"no space left on device",
 					"NotEnoughFunds",
 					"Cannot publish using channel",
+					"cannot concatenate 'str' and 'NoneType' objects",
 					"more than 90% of the space has been used.",
 				}
 				if util.SubstringInSlice(err.Error(), fatalErrors) || s.StopOnError {
@@ -337,14 +445,21 @@ func (s *Sync) startWorker(workerNum int) {
 						log.Println("This error should not be retried at all")
 					} else if tryCount < s.MaxTries {
 						if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "txn-mempool-conflict") ||
-							strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed: Not enough funds") ||
-							strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Error in daemon: Insufficient funds, please deposit additional LBC") ||
 							strings.Contains(err.Error(), "too-long-mempool-chain") {
-							log.Println("waiting for a block and refilling addresses before retrying")
+							log.Println("waiting for a block before retrying")
+							err = s.waitForNewBlock()
+							if err != nil {
+								s.grp.Stop()
+								SendErrorToSlack("something went wrong while waiting for a block: %v", err)
+								break
+							}
+						} else if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed: Not enough funds") ||
+							strings.Contains(err.Error(), "Error in daemon: Insufficient funds, please deposit additional LBC") {
+							log.Println("refilling addresses before retrying")
 							err = s.walletSetup()
 							if err != nil {
 								s.grp.Stop()
-								SendErrorToSlack("Failed to setup the wallet for a refill: %v", err)
+								SendErrorToSlack("failed to setup the wallet for a refill: %v", err)
 								break
 							}
 						}