diff --git a/dzgui/api/steam.py b/dzgui/api/steam.py
index 397080c..cc9e99d 100644
--- a/dzgui/api/steam.py
+++ b/dzgui/api/steam.py
@@ -170,8 +170,10 @@ def launch_offline(
         "-skipintro",
         f"-name={name}",
         f"-mod={symlinks}",
-        f"-mission={mission}",
     ]
+    if len(mission) > 0:
+        arg = f"-mission={mission}"
+        params.append(arg)
     proc = subprocess.run([*client_args, *params])
     return proc.returncode
 
diff --git a/dzgui/const/constants.py b/dzgui/const/constants.py
index cee5a63..58af7f2 100644
--- a/dzgui/const/constants.py
+++ b/dzgui/const/constants.py
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ UDP_PORT = 27016
 VM_FILE = "/proc/sys/vm/max_map_count"
 MIN_COUNT = 1048576
 
-RATE_LIMIT_THRESHOLD = 3
+API_RATE_LIMIT = 1
+CLIENT_RATE_LIMIT = 3
 REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 10
 
 APPNAME_DAYZ = "DayZ"
diff --git a/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py b/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
index c90aef7..46c5700 100644
--- a/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
+++ b/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
@@ -172,3 +172,7 @@ class Emitter(GObject.GObject):
     @GObject.Signal(flags=GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_LAST, arg_types=())
     def invalid_custom_mods(self) -> None:
         pass
+
+    @GObject.Signal(flags=GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_LAST, arg_types=())
+    def all_mods_synched(self) -> None:
+        pass
diff --git a/dzgui/controllers/mc.py b/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
index ae0bf6d..f2a93cd 100644
--- a/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
+++ b/dzgui/controllers/mc.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from dzgui.managers.contextmenu import ContextMenuManager
 from dzgui.managers.notes import NoteManager
 from dzgui.model.servers import ServerModelManager
 from dzgui.util.diag import write_diagnostic
-from dzgui.util.format import format_player_count
+from dzgui.util.format import format_exception, format_player_count
 from dzgui.util.open_links import open_user_workshop, open_workshop_page
 from dzgui.views.dialogs.filepicker import FilePicker
 from dzgui.views.dialogs.generic import ExceptionDialog
@@ -203,7 +203,10 @@ class Controller(GObject.GObject):
                 try:
                     # TODO: where to put config file check
                     self.mediator.grid.notebook.settings.populate_settings()
-                except Exception:
+                except Exception as e:
+                    msg = format_exception(e)
+                    print(msg)
+                    logger.critical(msg)
                     return
             case ButtonType.MODS:
                 self.load_mods()
diff --git a/dzgui/managers/connection.py b/dzgui/managers/connection.py
index 27c2806..0a0fc74 100644
--- a/dzgui/managers/connection.py
+++ b/dzgui/managers/connection.py
@@ -25,17 +25,17 @@ from dzgui.api.mods import (
     update_signatures,
 )
 from dzgui.const.constants import (
+    API_RATE_LIMIT,
     APP_NAME,
     APPID_DAYZ,
     APPID_DAYZ_EXP,
     APPNAME_DAYZ,
     APPNAME_DAYZ_EXP_HUMAN,
-    RATE_LIMIT_THRESHOLD,
 )
 from dzgui.const.enum import NotebookPage, Preferences
 from dzgui.init.proc import is_dayz_running, is_steam_running
 from dzgui.managers.threading import call_on_thread, StoredFunc, ThreadingManager
-from dzgui.strings.dialogs import waiting_for_launch, waiting_for_mods
+from dzgui.strings.dialogs import waiting_for_launch, waiting_for_mods, waiting_for_directories
 from dzgui.strings.server_mods import checkmark, resync
 from dzgui.util.format import format_mib
 from dzgui.util.strings import dialog, server_timeout
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@ class ConnectionManager:
             self.thread_man.set_cleanup_func(func)
             return
 
-        self.thread_man.show_cancel(False)
         self.thread_man.update_dialog(waiting_for_launch)
         while True:
             # FIXME: cancel should not be visible here per setting above
@@ -303,8 +302,9 @@ class ConnectionManager:
             if self.controller.is_cancel_pending():
                 return
             subscribe(key, int(mod))
-            time.sleep(RATE_LIMIT_THRESHOLD)
+            time.sleep(API_RATE_LIMIT)
 
+        self.thread_man.update_dialog(waiting_for_directories)
         for title, mod, stamp, size in self.missing_mods:
             mod_path = self.workshop / mod
 
@@ -322,8 +322,12 @@ class ConnectionManager:
                 time.sleep(1)
 
         update_signatures(self.missing_mods, prefs.paths.version)
-        # TODO: just push steam path directly
         rebuild_symlinks(prefs.paths.config)
+
+        # NOTE: update table status in main loop
+        self.thread_man.update_emitter("all_mods_synched")
+
+        # TODO: just push steam path directly
         self._connect_steam(menu_only)
 
     @call_on_thread(waiting_for_mods, show_cancel=True)
diff --git a/dzgui/managers/mods.py b/dzgui/managers/mods.py
index af27090..4d0170c 100644
--- a/dzgui/managers/mods.py
+++ b/dzgui/managers/mods.py
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ from dzgui.api.mods import (
     remove_stale_signatures,
 )
 from dzgui.const.constants import (
+    API_RATE_LIMIT,
     APP_NAME,
     APPID_DAYZ,
     APPID_DAYZ_EXP,
-    RATE_LIMIT_THRESHOLD,
 )
 from dzgui.const.enum import Preferences
 from dzgui.managers.threading import call_on_thread, StoredFunc, ThreadingManager
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ class ModManager:
     def unsub_all_mods(self, mods: list[tuple[str, Gtk.TreeIter]]) -> None:
         for mod, _iter in mods:
             self.unsub_atomic_mod(mod)
+            time.sleep(API_RATE_LIMIT)
 
         iters = [_iter for mod, _iter in mods]
         func = StoredFunc(self._on_mods_unsubbed, iters)
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ class ModManager:
             symlink.unlink()
         except PeFile.AppNotInstalledError:
             pass
-        time.sleep(RATE_LIMIT_THRESHOLD)
+        time.sleep(API_RATE_LIMIT)
 
     def _on_mods_unsubbed(self, iters: list[Gtk.TreeIter]) -> None:
         if self.store is None:
diff --git a/dzgui/managers/threading.py b/dzgui/managers/threading.py
index adecb7a..c20f324 100644
--- a/dzgui/managers/threading.py
+++ b/dzgui/managers/threading.py
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ class ThreadingManager:
     def set_job_count(self, jobs: int) -> None:
         self.jobs = jobs
 
+    def update_emitter(self, signal: str) -> None:
+        if self.controller:
+            emitter = self.controller.get_emitter()
+        GLib.idle_add(lambda: emitter.emit(signal))
+
     def update_dialog(self, msg: str) -> None:
         GLib.idle_add(lambda: self.wait_dialog.update_text(msg))
 
diff --git a/dzgui/strings/dialogs.py b/dzgui/strings/dialogs.py
index 57c27a6..460250d 100644
--- a/dzgui/strings/dialogs.py
+++ b/dzgui/strings/dialogs.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 waiting_for_launch = "Waiting for DayZ to launch"
-waiting_for_mods = "Waiting for Steam to update mods"
+waiting_for_mods = "Queueing up mods (step 1/2)"
+waiting_for_directories = "Steam is staging mods (step 2/2)"
 
 fetching_update = "Fetching update"
 failed_to_update = "Failed to update DZGUI executable"
diff --git a/dzgui/strings/preconnect.py b/dzgui/strings/preconnect.py
index 7b18939..07e5e57 100644
--- a/dzgui/strings/preconnect.py
+++ b/dzgui/strings/preconnect.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ warnings = "Warnings"
 errors = "Errors"
 mods = "Mods"
 total_mods = "Total mods: "
+up_to_date = "All mods are up to date."
 all_updated = "All mods updated."
 "If you recently installed {build} or moved it to a different drive, "
 "restart Steam to allow these changes to synchronize, then try again."
diff --git a/dzgui/views/pages/options.py b/dzgui/views/pages/options.py
index 066a7cf..aea0417 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/pages/options.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/pages/options.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ class Options(Gtk.Box):
         if prefs.paths.config.is_file() is False:
             dialog = ExceptionDialog(self.controller, strings.config_not_found)
             dialog.run()
-            raise Exception
+            raise OSError(f"Config file '{prefs.paths.config}' not found")
 
         config = query.get_config(prefs.paths.config)
 
diff --git a/dzgui/views/pages/preconnect.py b/dzgui/views/pages/preconnect.py
index 02ec5fc..463228d 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/pages/preconnect.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/pages/preconnect.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from gi.repository import Gdk, Gtk  # noqa E402
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from dzgui.managers.connection import Prerequisites
     from dzgui.controllers.mc import Controller
+    from dzgui.controllers.emitter import Emitter
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -191,9 +192,14 @@ class PreConnectionAssistant(Gtk.Box):
         self.add(self.scrolled_box)
         self.add(self.button_box)
 
+        emitter = self.controller.get_emitter()
+        emitter.connect("all_mods_synched", self._on_mods_synched)
         self.connect("key-press-event", self._on_keypress)
         self.connect("map", self._on_map)
 
+    def _on_mods_synched(self, emitter: "Emitter") -> None:
+        self.tree.mark_mods_synched()
+
     def _on_map(self, widget: Self) -> None:
         widgets = (
             self.tree_frame,
@@ -297,16 +303,16 @@ class PreConnectionAssistant(Gtk.Box):
             self._hide_mod_area()
         else:
             self._show_mod_area()
-            msg = "All mods are up to date."
+            msg = preconnect.up_to_date
             self.mod_count.set_text(msg)
 
-        if prereqs.required_space == 0:
-            self.ok.set_label(preconnect.connect)
-
+        if prereqs.required_space != 0:
             pretty = number(prereqs.required_space)
             suffix = f" Need to download {pretty} MiB of mod updates."
             prefix = preconnect.total_mods
             self.mod_count.set_text(f"{prefix}{str(total_mods)}.{suffix}")
+        else:
+            self.ok.set_label(preconnect.connect)
 
         if prereqs.is_last_server:
             self.connect_last.show()
diff --git a/dzgui/views/trees/tree_server_mods.py b/dzgui/views/trees/tree_server_mods.py
index 0659c31..fe1169c 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/trees/tree_server_mods.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/trees/tree_server_mods.py
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ class ServerModTreeView(ContextMixin, TreeView):  # type: ignore
                 case _:
                     pass
 
+    def mark_mods_synched(self) -> None:
+        for row in self.mod_store:
+            row[2] = server_mods.checkmark
+
     # TODO: could be problematic if user downloads mods out of band
     def _on_row_activated(
         self,