diff --git a/app/app.go b/app/app.go
index 75063ec..2194cb6 100644
--- a/app/app.go
+++ b/app/app.go
@@ -35,9 +35,12 @@ func Run() {
 	cluster := Cluster{}
 	cluster.Init(client)
 	start := time.Now()
-	log.Printf("[INFO] starting cluster sync\n")
-	cluster.Sync()
-	log.Printf("[INFO] synced cluster in %fs\n", time.Since(start).Seconds())
+	err := cluster.Sync()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("[Error] error encountered while syncing cluster: %s", err)
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("[INFO] synced cluster in %fs\n", time.Since(start).Seconds())
+	}
 
 	// set repeating update for full rebuilds
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(config.ReloadInterval) * time.Second)
@@ -51,8 +54,12 @@ func Run() {
 			case <-ticker.C:
 				start := time.Now()
 				log.Printf("[INFO] starting cluster sync\n")
-				cluster.Sync()
-				log.Printf("[INFO] synced cluster in %fs\n", time.Since(start).Seconds())
+				err := cluster.Sync()
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Printf("[Error] error encountered while syncing cluster: %s", err)
+				} else {
+					log.Printf("[INFO] synced cluster in %fs\n", time.Since(start).Seconds())
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}()
@@ -188,7 +195,7 @@ func Run() {
 	})
 
 	log.Printf("[INFO] starting API listening on 0.0.0.0:%d", config.ListenPort)
-	err := router.Run("0.0.0.0:" + strconv.Itoa(config.ListenPort))
+	err = router.Run("0.0.0.0:" + strconv.Itoa(config.ListenPort))
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("[Err] Error starting router: %s", err.Error())
 	}
diff --git a/app/model.go b/app/model.go
index dbec44e..1a7f292 100644
--- a/app/model.go
+++ b/app/model.go
@@ -249,23 +249,39 @@ func (host *Node) RebuildInstance(instancetype InstanceType, vmid uint) error {
 		host.Instances[instanceID] = instance
 
 		for volid := range instance.configDisks {
-			instance.RebuildVolume(host, volid)
+			err = instance.RebuildVolume(host, volid)
+			if err != nil {
+				err_ch <- err
+			}
 		}
 
 		for netid := range instance.configNets {
-			instance.RebuildNet(host, netid)
+			err = instance.RebuildNet(host, netid)
+			if err != nil {
+				err_ch <- err
+			}
 		}
 
 		for deviceid := range instance.configHostPCIs {
-			instance.RebuildDevice(host, deviceid)
+			err = instance.RebuildDevice(host, deviceid)
+			if err != nil {
+				err_ch <- err
+			}
 		}
 
 		if instance.Type == VM {
-			instance.RebuildBoot(host)
+			err = instance.RebuildBoot(host)
+			if err != nil {
+				err_ch <- err
+			}
 		}
 
 		// after synchronizing an instance, resync pool membership
-		host.cluster.ResolvePoolMembership()
+		err = host.cluster.ResolvePoolMembership()
+		if err != nil {
+			err_ch <- err
+		}
+
 		err_ch <- nil
 	}()
 
@@ -302,11 +318,11 @@ func (instance *Instance) RebuildNet(host *Node, netid string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (instance *Instance) RebuildDevice(host *Node, deviceid string) {
+func (instance *Instance) RebuildDevice(host *Node, deviceid string) error {
 	instanceDevice, ok := instance.configHostPCIs[deviceid]
 	if !ok { // if device does not exist
-		log.Printf("[WARN] %s not found in devices", deviceid)
-		return
+		log.Printf("[WARN] %s not found in devices on node %s", deviceid, host.Name)
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	hostDeviceBusID := DeviceID(strings.Split(instanceDevice, ",")[0])
@@ -322,9 +338,11 @@ func (instance *Instance) RebuildDevice(host *Node, deviceid string) {
 	}
 
 	instance.Devices[DeviceID(instanceDeviceBusID)].Device_ID = DeviceID(deviceid)
+
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (instance *Instance) RebuildBoot(host *Node) {
+func (instance *Instance) RebuildBoot(host *Node) error {
 	instance.Boot = BootOrder{}
 
 	eligibleBoot := map[string]bool{}
@@ -365,4 +383,6 @@ func (instance *Instance) RebuildBoot(host *Node) {
 			log.Printf("[WARN] encountered disabled and non-eligible boot target %s in instance %s\n", bootTarget, instance.Name)
 		}
 	}
+
+	return nil
 }