diff --git a/rust-whisper.d/hotwords.py b/rust-whisper.d/hotwords.py
index 9a5909a..be48dba 100644
--- a/rust-whisper.d/hotwords.py
+++ b/rust-whisper.d/hotwords.py
@@ -52,26 +52,30 @@ class Reader(threading.Thread):
       self.inq = inq
       self.outq = outq
 
-   def run(self):
-      log("Reader.run: start")
-      try:
-         idx = [
+   def mic_idx(self):
+      mics = []
+      while not mics:
+         log(f'searching for one of {self.name.split(",")} in {sr.Microphone.list_microphone_names()}...')
+         time.sleep(1)
+         mics = [
             idx for idx,v in enumerate(
                sr.Microphone.list_microphone_names(),
             ) if v in self.name.split(",")
-         ][0]
-         with sr.Microphone(device_index=idx) as mic:
-            while not self.should_stop():
-               try:
+         ]
+      return mics[0]
+
+   def run(self):
+      log("Reader.run: start")
+      while not self.should_stop():
+         try:
+            with sr.Microphone(device_index=self.mic_idx()) as mic:
+               while not self.should_stop():
                   self.outq.put(self._run(mic))
-               except Exception as e:
-                  if not "timed out" in str(e):
-                     log("Reader.run: error:", e)
-      except Exception as e:
-         log("Reader.run panic:", e)
-         log("microphones:", sr.Microphone.list_microphone_names())
-      finally:
-         self.outq.put(None)
+         except Exception as e:
+            if not "timed out" in str(e):
+               time.sleep(5)
+               log("Reader.run: error:", e)
+      self.outq.put(None)
       log("Reader.run: stop")
 
    def should_stop(self):