diff --git a/csdr/chain/digiham.py b/csdr/chain/digiham.py
index abf426bc..a17217f7 100644
--- a/csdr/chain/digiham.py
+++ b/csdr/chain/digiham.py
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ from digiham.ambe import Modes, ServerError
 from owrx.meta import MetaParser
 from owrx.pocsag import PocsagParser
 
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 class DigihamChain(BaseDemodulatorChain, FixedIfSampleRateChain, FixedAudioRateChain, DialFrequencyReceiver, MetaProvider):
     def __init__(self, fskDemodulator, decoder, mbeMode, filter=None, codecserver: str = ""):
@@ -24,6 +28,9 @@ class DigihamChain(BaseDemodulatorChain, FixedIfSampleRateChain, FixedAudioRateC
             raise DemodulatorError("Connection to codecserver failed: {}".format(ce))
         except ServerError as se:
             raise DemodulatorError("Codecserver error: {}".format(se))
+        except RuntimeError as re:
+            logger.exception("Codecserver error while instantiating MbeSynthesizer:")
+            raise DemodulatorError("Fatal codecserver error. Please check receiver logs.")
         workers += [
             fskDemodulator,
             decoder,
diff --git a/owrx/feature.py b/owrx/feature.py
index 00d28ba7..036a17f8 100644
--- a/owrx/feature.py
+++ b/owrx/feature.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 import logging
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)
 
 
 class UnknownFeatureException(Exception):
@@ -137,14 +136,12 @@ class FeatureDetector(object):
         if cache.has(requirement):
             return cache.get(requirement)
 
-        logger.debug("performing feature check for %s", requirement)
         method = self._get_requirement_method(requirement)
         result = False
         if method is not None:
             result = method()
         else:
             logger.error("detection of requirement {0} not implement. please fix in code!".format(requirement))
-        logger.debug("feature check for %s complete. result: %s", requirement, result)
 
         cache.set(requirement, result)
         return result
@@ -564,3 +561,6 @@ class FeatureDetector(object):
             return False
         except ConnectionError:
             return False
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            logger.exception("Codecserver error while checking for AMBE support:")
+            return False