diff --git a/ethereal/ethereum.go b/ethereal/ethereum.go
index 63f907571..98fab18e3 100644
--- a/ethereal/ethereum.go
+++ b/ethereal/ethereum.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethchain"
-	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethpub"
-	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethrpc"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethereal/ui"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/utils"
@@ -115,12 +113,7 @@ save these words so you can restore your account later: %s
 	}
 
 	if StartRpc {
-		ethereum.RpcServer, err = ethrpc.NewJsonRpcServer(ethpub.NewPEthereum(ethereum), RpcPort)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Println("Could not start RPC interface:", err)
-		} else {
-			go ethereum.RpcServer.Start()
-		}
+		utils.DoRpc(ethereum, RpcPort)
 	}
 
 	log.Printf("Starting Ethereum GUI v%s\n", ethutil.Config.Ver)
diff --git a/ethereum/ethereum.go b/ethereum/ethereum.go
index c4d419d70..2abf6da42 100644
--- a/ethereum/ethereum.go
+++ b/ethereum/ethereum.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethchain"
-	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethpub"
-	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethrpc"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/utils"
 	"log"
@@ -149,12 +147,7 @@ save these words so you can restore your account later: %s
 		go console.Start()
 	}
 	if StartRpc {
-		ethereum.RpcServer, err = ethrpc.NewJsonRpcServer(ethpub.NewPEthereum(ethereum), RpcPort)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Infoln("Could not start RPC interface:", err)
-		} else {
-			go ethereum.RpcServer.Start()
-		}
+		utils.DoRpc(ethereum, RpcPort)
 	}
 
 	RegisterInterrupts(ethereum)
diff --git a/utils/cmd.go b/utils/cmd.go
index 654014169..8395ac8fc 100644
--- a/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/utils/cmd.go
@@ -3,24 +3,44 @@ package utils
 import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethminer"
-	_ "github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethrpc"
+	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethpub"
+	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethrpc"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethutil"
 	"log"
+	"time"
 )
 
+func DoRpc(ethereum *eth.Ethereum, RpcPort int) {
+	var err error
+	ethereum.RpcServer, err = ethrpc.NewJsonRpcServer(ethpub.NewPEthereum(ethereum), RpcPort)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println("Could not start RPC interface:", err)
+	} else {
+		go ethereum.RpcServer.Start()
+	}
+}
+
 func DoMining(ethereum *eth.Ethereum) {
 	// Set Mining status
 	ethereum.Mining = true
 
-	log.Println("Miner started")
+	if ethutil.GetKeyRing().Len() == 0 {
+		log.Println("No address found, can't start mining")
+		return
+	}
+	keyPair := ethutil.GetKeyRing().Get(0)
+	addr := keyPair.Address()
 
-	// Fake block mining. It broadcasts a new block every 5 seconds
 	go func() {
-		keyPair := ethutil.GetKeyRing().Get(0)
-		addr := keyPair.Address()
+		// Give it some time to connect with peers
+		time.Sleep(3 * time.Second)
+
+		for ethereum.IsUpToDate() == false {
+			time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+		}
+		log.Println("Miner started")
 
 		miner := ethminer.NewDefaultMiner(addr, ethereum)
 		miner.Start()
-
 	}()
 }