diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/Util.kt b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/Util.kt
index 8a07453..ec98f07 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/Util.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/Util.kt
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 package civilengineering
 
-class Util {
-    companion object {
-        const val ZWSP: Char = '\u200b'
 
-        //Inserts a zero-width space at index 1 in the string'
-        @JvmStatic
-        fun antiping(str: String): String {
-            return str[0].toString()+ZWSP+str.substring(1)
-        }
+object Util {
+    const val ZWSP: Char = '\u200b'
+
+    //Inserts a zero-width space at index 1 in the string'
+
+    fun String.antiping(): String {
+        return this[0].toString()+ZWSP+this.substring(1)
     }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/bridge/MessageHandler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/bridge/MessageHandler.kt
index 62ef6bb..e223539 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/bridge/MessageHandler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/bridge/MessageHandler.kt
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue
 
 
 object MessageHandler {
-
+    private var connected = false
+    private var sendErrors = 0
     fun HttpRequestBase.authorize() {
         if (cfg!!.connect.authToken.isNotEmpty() && getHeaders("Authorization").isEmpty())
             setHeader("Authorization", "Bearer " + cfg!!.connect.authToken)
@@ -41,8 +42,10 @@ object MessageHandler {
     var rcvQueue = ConcurrentLinkedQueue<ApiMessage>()
 
     fun transmit(msg: ApiMessage) {
-        CivilEngineering.logger.debug("Transmitting: " + msg)
-        transmitMessage(msg)
+        if (connected) {
+            CivilEngineering.logger.debug("Transmitting: " + msg)
+            transmitMessage(msg)
+        }
     }
 
     fun stop() {
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ object MessageHandler {
         streamConnection.close()
 
         CivilEngineering.logger.info("Bridge connection closed!")
+        connected = false
     }
 
     fun start(): Boolean {
@@ -60,24 +64,34 @@ object MessageHandler {
         if (!streamConnection.isAlive) {
             streamConnection.start()
 //            MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(text="bridge connected", username="Server"))
-            return true
+            connected = true
+            return connected
         }
-        return false
+        return connected
     }
 
-    @Throws(IOException::class)
     private fun transmitMessage(message: ApiMessage) {
-        //open a connection
-        val client = HttpClients.createDefault()
-        val post = HttpPost(cfg!!.connect.url + "/api/message")
+        try {
+            //open a connection
+            val client = HttpClients.createDefault()
+            val post = HttpPost(cfg!!.connect.url + "/api/message")
 
-        post.entity = StringEntity(message.encode(), ContentType.APPLICATION_JSON)
-        post.authorize()
+            post.entity = StringEntity(message.encode(), ContentType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+            post.authorize()
 
-        val response = client.execute(post)
-        val code = response.statusLine.statusCode
-        if (code != 200) {
-            CivilEngineering.logger.error("Server returned $code for $post")
+            val response = client.execute(post)
+            val code = response.statusLine.statusCode
+            if (code != 200) {
+                CivilEngineering.logger.error("Server returned $code for $post")
+            }
+            sendErrors = 0
+        } catch (e: IOException) {
+            CivilEngineering.logger.error("sending message caused $e")
+            sendErrors++
+            if(sendErrors > 5) {
+                CivilEngineering.logger.error("caught too many errors, closing bridge")
+                stop()
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/AdvancementEventHandler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/AdvancementEventHandler.kt
index 787c949..548f0d2 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/AdvancementEventHandler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/AdvancementEventHandler.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package civilengineering.eventhandlers
 
+import civilengineering.Util.antiping
 import civilengineering.CivilEngineering
 import civilengineering.CivilEngineeringConfig
 import civilengineering.Util
@@ -13,10 +14,11 @@ class AdvancementEventHandler {
     @SubscribeEvent
     fun handleAdvancements(event: AdvancementEvent) {
         if(cfg!!.relay.advancements && event.advancement.display != null) {
-            val zwsp: Char = '\u200B'
-            var player: String = Util.antiping(event.entityPlayer.name)
-
-            MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage("Server",player+" has earned the advancement "+event.advancement.displayText.unformattedText))
+            val player = event.entityPlayer.name.antiping()
+            val content = event.advancement.displayText.unformattedText
+            MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(username = "Server",
+                    text = "$player has earned the advancement $content"
+            ))
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/CommandEventHandler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/CommandEventHandler.kt
index 8ea2a4f..914fea1 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/CommandEventHandler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/CommandEventHandler.kt
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ class CommandEventHandler {
             }
             message = message.trim { it <= ' ' }
 
-            MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(event.sender.name,message))
+            MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(
+                    username = event.sender.name,
+                    text = message
+            ))
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/DeathEventHandler.kt b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/DeathEventHandler.kt
index cea641e..e08cb4a 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/DeathEventHandler.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/civilengineering/eventhandlers/DeathEventHandler.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package civilengineering.eventhandlers
 
-import civilengineering.Util
+import civilengineering.Util.antiping
 import civilengineering.bridge.ApiMessage
 import civilengineering.bridge.MessageHandler
 import civilengineering.cfg
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class DeathEventHandler {
             val entity = event.entityLiving
             if (entity is EntityPlayer) {
                 var message: String = entity.getCombatTracker().deathMessage.unformattedText
-                MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(username = "Server", text = Util.antiping(message)))
+                MessageHandler.transmit(ApiMessage(username = "Server", text = message.antiping()))
             }
         }
     }