diff --git a/cmd/utils/explanations/explanations.go b/cmd/utils/explanations/explanations.go
index 216c680b..8ca94b8b 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/explanations/explanations.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/explanations/explanations.go
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ var NodeNotFound = lipgloss.JoinHorizontal(lipgloss.Left,
 	style.Cyan.Render("Explanation"),
 	style.Bold(": "),
 ) +
-	"algorun could not find your node automatically. (ensure the node is running)\n\n" +
+	"algorun could not find your node automatically. Ensure the node is installed and running: If you have not installed algod yet, run \"nodekit bootstrap\". If your node is installed, start it with \"nodekit start\". \n\n" +
 	lipgloss.JoinHorizontal(lipgloss.Left,
-		"Provide ",
+		"Otherwise for custom installations, provide ",
 		style.Bold("--datadir"),
 		" or set the goal-compatible ",
 		style.Bold("ALGORAND_DATA"),
diff --git a/internal/algod/participation/participation.go b/internal/algod/participation/participation.go
index bf55cc4b..bcfb80b5 100644
--- a/internal/algod/participation/participation.go
+++ b/internal/algod/participation/participation.go
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ func GenerateKeys(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if key.StatusCode() != 200 {
+		if key.JSON400 != nil {
+			return nil, errors.New(key.JSON400.Message)
+		}
+
 		status := key.Status()
 		if status != "" {
 			return nil, errors.New(status)
diff --git a/ui/app/keys.go b/ui/app/keys.go
index 133e4b65..75debd75 100644
--- a/ui/app/keys.go
+++ b/ui/app/keys.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func GenerateCmd(account string, rangeType participation.RangeType, duration int
 				Key:     nil,
 				Address: "",
 				Active:  false,
-				Err:     &err,
+				Err:     err,
 				Type:    ExceptionModal,
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/ui/app/modal.go b/ui/app/modal.go
index 2639bbb6..9e25d1ee 100644
--- a/ui/app/modal.go
+++ b/ui/app/modal.go
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ type ModalEvent struct {
 	// Prefix adds prefix message to info modal
 	Prefix string
 
-	// Err is a pointer to an error that represents an exceptional condition or failure state for the modal event.
-	Err *error
+	// Err is an error that represents an exceptional condition or failure state for the modal event.
+	Err error
 
 	// Type represents the specific category or variant of the modal event.
 	Type ModalType
diff --git a/ui/modal/controller.go b/ui/modal/controller.go
index ea18271b..5750267b 100644
--- a/ui/modal/controller.go
+++ b/ui/modal/controller.go
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ func (m ViewModel) HandleMessage(msg tea.Msg) (*ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.SetShortLink(msg)
 		m.SetType(app.TransactionModal)
 	case *algod.StateModel:
+		// Clear the catchup modal
+		if msg.Status.State != algod.FastCatchupState && m.Type == app.ExceptionModal && m.title == "Fast Catchup" {
+			m.Open = false
+			m.SetType(app.InfoModal)
+		}
+
 		m.State = msg
 		m.transactionModal.State = msg
 		m.infoModal.State = msg
@@ -90,6 +96,13 @@ func (m ViewModel) HandleMessage(msg tea.Msg) (*ViewModel, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 
 	case app.ModalEvent:
+		if msg.Type == app.ExceptionModal {
+			m.Open = true
+			m.exceptionModal.Message = msg.Err.Error()
+			m.generateModal.SetStep(generate.AddressStep)
+			m.SetType(app.ExceptionModal)
+		}
+
 		if msg.Type == app.InfoModal {
 			m.infoModal.Prefix = msg.Prefix
 			m.generateModal.SetStep(generate.AddressStep)