diff --git a/exit/exit.go b/exit/exit.go
index 3124c13..77e95ed 100644
--- a/exit/exit.go
+++ b/exit/exit.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func NewExit(ctx context.Context, exitNodeConfig *config.ExitConfig) *Exit {
 	}
 	err = exit.announceExitNode(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+		slog.Error("failed to announce exit node", "error", err)
 	}
 	return exit
 }
diff --git a/exit/nostr.go b/exit/nostr.go
index a819de1..e3e0f0b 100644
--- a/exit/nostr.go
+++ b/exit/nostr.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 const ten = 10
 
-var errNoPublicKey = errors.New("no public key found")
+var errNoPublicKey = errors.New("no public configuration")
 
 func (e *Exit) announceExitNode(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if !e.config.Public {