diff --git a/bolt.go b/bolt.go
index 81309fd..0685f97 100644
--- a/bolt.go
+++ b/bolt.go
@@ -44,20 +44,16 @@ type Bolt interface {
 	timeoutCheck(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, run Command) (bool, error)
 }
 
-// setup
-func init() {
-	//validate environment variables
+// create a new bolt interface
+func New(opts ...Option) (Bolt, error) {
 	_, check := os.LookupEnv(TOKEN_ENV_VAR)
 	if !check {
-		log.Fatalf("the %s environment variable must be set", TOKEN_ENV_VAR)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("environment variable %s must be set", TOKEN_ENV_VAR)
 	}
-}
 
-// create a new bolt interface
-func New(opts ...Option) Bolt {
 	bot, err := dg.New(fmt.Sprintf("Bot %s", os.Getenv(TOKEN_ENV_VAR)))
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create Discord session: %e", err)
 	}
 	bot.Identify.Intents = BOT_INTENTS
 
@@ -74,7 +70,7 @@ func New(opts ...Option) Bolt {
 		opt(b)
 	}
 
-	return b
+	return b, nil
 }
 
 // starts the bot, commands are added and the connection to Discord is opened, this is a BLOCKING
@@ -85,7 +81,7 @@ func (b *bolt) Start() error {
 
 	err := b.Open()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open websocket connection with Discord: %e", err)
 	}
 
 	//safe shutdown handler
@@ -117,12 +113,12 @@ func (b *bolt) messageHandler(s *dg.Session, msg *dg.MessageCreate) {
 	//get server information
 	server, err := s.Guild(msg.GuildID)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Println(err)
+		log.Printf("failed to get guild: %e\n", err)
 		return
 	}
 	channel, err := s.Channel(msg.ChannelID)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Println(err)
+		log.Printf("failed to get channel from guild: %e\n", err)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -132,20 +128,20 @@ func (b *bolt) messageHandler(s *dg.Session, msg *dg.MessageCreate) {
 		msg.Content = "[Embedded Content]"
 	}
 
-	if b.logLvl == LogLevelAll {
-		//log message
-		log.Printf("< %s | %s | %s > %s\n", server.Name, channel.Name, msg.Author.Username, msg.Content)
-	}
-
 	//the bot will ignore it's own messages to prevent command loops
 	if msg.Author.ID == s.State.User.ID {
 		if b.logLvl == LogLevelCmd {
-			//log commands
+			//log command responses
 			log.Printf("< %s | %s | %s > %s\n", server.Name, channel.Name, msg.Author.Username, msg.Content)
 		}
 		return
 	}
 
+	if b.logLvl == LogLevelAll {
+		//log message
+		log.Printf("< %s | %s | %s > %s\n", server.Name, channel.Name, msg.Author.Username, msg.Content)
+	}
+
 	//does the message have the command indicator
 	lg := len(b.indicator)
 	if msg.Content[:lg] == b.indicator {
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@ func (b *bolt) handleCommand(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, server *dg.Gu
 	//has command met its timeout requirements
 	tc, err := b.timeoutCheck(msg, s, run)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to calculate timeout for %s\n%e", run.Trigger, err)
 	}
 	if !tc {
 		return nil
@@ -183,7 +179,7 @@ func (b *bolt) handleCommand(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, server *dg.Gu
 	if run.Roles != nil {
 		check, err := b.roleCheck(msg, s, run)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to perform permission checks for %s\n%e", run.Trigger, err)
 		}
 		if !check {
 			return nil
@@ -226,7 +222,7 @@ func (b *bolt) handleCommand(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, server *dg.Gu
 	//run command payload
 	err = run.Payload(plMsg)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to execute payload function: %e", err)
 	}
 
 	//update run time
@@ -279,7 +275,7 @@ func (b *bolt) roleCheck(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, run Command) (boo
 		//get role name from ID
 		n, err := s.State.Role(msg.GuildID, r)
 		if err != nil {
-			return false, err
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to get role from ID %s\n%e", msg.GuildID, err)
 		}
 		//does this role exist in command roles
 		check := slices.Contains(run.Roles, n.Name)
@@ -294,7 +290,7 @@ func (b *bolt) roleCheck(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, run Command) (boo
 		reply := b.createReply("you do not have permissions to run that command", msg.ID, msg.ChannelID, msg.GuildID)
 		_, err := s.ChannelMessageSendComplex(msg.ChannelID, reply)
 		if err != nil {
-			return false, err
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to send permission response: %e", err)
 		}
 		return false, nil
 	}
@@ -309,7 +305,7 @@ func (b *bolt) timeoutCheck(msg *dg.MessageCreate, s *dg.Session, run Command) (
 		reply := b.createReply(fmt.Sprintf("that command cannot be run for another %s", b.getRemainingTimeout(wait)), msg.ID, msg.ChannelID, msg.GuildID)
 		_, err := s.ChannelMessageSendComplex(msg.ChannelID, reply)
 		if err != nil {
-			return false, err
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to send timeout response: %e", err)
 		}
 		return false, nil
 	}