diff --git a/ccnode/node.py b/ccnode/node.py
index f4e327293b167934d175b95edd59c25c1b38b5f7..31c9a9d74e476ea99929f13f13fc026d2c395e52 100644
--- a/ccnode/node.py
+++ b/ccnode/node.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 from functools import partial
 
 import pyev
-from sjrpc.core import RpcConnection
+from sjrpc.core import RpcConnection, RpcError
 from sjrpc.utils import ConnectionProxy, RpcHandler, threadless
 
 from ccnode import __version__
@@ -106,12 +106,21 @@ class RPCStartHandler(Thread):
             return
 
         # try to authenticate
-        self.auth_id = self.rpc_con.rpc.async_call_cb(
-            self.auth_done_cb,
-            'authentify',
-            self.loop.config.server_user,
-            self.loop.config.server_passwd,
-        )
+        try:
+            self.auth_id = self.rpc_con.rpc.async_call_cb(
+                self.auth_done_cb,
+                'authentify',
+                self.loop.config.server_user,
+                self.loop.config.server_passwd,
+            )
+        except RpcError as exc:
+            if exc.exception == 'RpcConnectionError':
+                logger.error('Authentication failed: connection lost')
+            else:
+                logger.exception('Unexpected exception while authenticating')
+
+            self.stop()
+            self.loop.restart_rpc_connection()
 
     def auth_done_cb(self, call_id, response=None, error=None):
         assert call_id == self.auth_id