diff --git a/mycroft/client/speech/listener.py b/mycroft/client/speech/listener.py
index 2d85ae05e4..7b8dfe9f27 100644
--- a/mycroft/client/speech/listener.py
+++ b/mycroft/client/speech/listener.py
@@ -402,7 +402,18 @@ class RecognizerLoop(EventEmitter):
         self.state.sleeping = False
 
     def run(self):
-        self.start_async()
+        """Start and reload mic and STT handling threads as needed.
+
+        Wait for KeyboardInterrupt and shutdown cleanly.
+        """
+        try:
+            self.start_async()
+        except Exception:
+            LOG.exception('Starting producer/consumer threads for listener '
+                          'failed.')
+            return
+
+        # Handle reload of consumer / producer if config changes
         while self.state.running:
             try:
                 time.sleep(1)
diff --git a/mycroft/client/speech/mic.py b/mycroft/client/speech/mic.py
index d690093a40..db0e83f9d4 100644
--- a/mycroft/client/speech/mic.py
+++ b/mycroft/client/speech/mic.py
@@ -244,10 +244,25 @@ class ResponsiveRecognizer(speech_recognition.Recognizer):
         self.TEST_WW_SEC = num_phonemes * len_phoneme
         self.SAVED_WW_SEC = max(3, self.TEST_WW_SEC)
 
-        try:
-            self.account_id = DeviceApi().get()['user']['uuid']
-        except (requests.RequestException, AttributeError):
-            self.account_id = '0'
+        self._account_id = None
+
+    @property
+    def account_id(self):
+        """Fetch account from backend when needed.
+
+        If an error occurs it's handled and a temporary value is returned.
+        When a value is received it will be cached until next start.
+        """
+        if not self._account_id:
+            try:
+                self._account_id = DeviceApi().get()['user']['uuid']
+            except (requests.RequestException, AttributeError):
+                pass  # These are expected and won't be reported
+            except Exception as e:
+                LOG.debug('Unhandled exception while determining device_id, '
+                          'Error: {}'.format(repr(e)))
+
+        return self._account_id or '0'
 
     def record_sound_chunk(self, source):
         return source.stream.read(source.CHUNK, self.overflow_exc)
diff --git a/mycroft/stt/__init__.py b/mycroft/stt/__init__.py
index b1a7a5f806..9a6a93ea63 100644
--- a/mycroft/stt/__init__.py
+++ b/mycroft/stt/__init__.py
@@ -497,7 +497,17 @@ class STTFactory:
 
     @staticmethod
     def create():
-        config = Configuration.get().get("stt", {})
-        module = config.get("module", "mycroft")
-        clazz = STTFactory.CLASSES.get(module)
-        return clazz()
+        try:
+            config = Configuration.get().get("stt", {})
+            module = config.get("module", "mycroft")
+            clazz = STTFactory.CLASSES.get(module)
+            return clazz()
+        except Exception as e:
+            # The STT backend failed to start. Report it and fall back to
+            # default.
+            LOG.exception('The selected STT backend could not be loaded, '
+                          'falling back to default...')
+            if module != 'mycroft':
+                return MycroftSTT()
+            else:
+                raise