diff --git a/bot.php b/bot.php
index a2b4142..b56119d 100644
--- a/bot.php
+++ b/bot.php
@@ -87,7 +87,11 @@ $telegram = new Longman\TelegramBot\Telegram(
     return;
   };
 }
-$mastodon = new MastodonClient(new Client);
+try {
+  $mastodon = new MastodonClient(new Client);
+} catch (\Exception $e) {
+  echo 'WARNING: could not start MastodonClient';
+}
 
 foreach ($articles as $article) {
   if (in_array($article['link'], $seen)) {
@@ -130,7 +134,7 @@ foreach ($articles as $article) {
         echo $e;
       }
     }
-    if ($config['MASTODON'] === true) {
+    if ($config['MASTODON'] === true && isset($mastodon)) {
       $mastodon->domain($config['MASTODON_SERVER'])->token($config['MASTODON_ACCESS_TOKEN']);
       /*
       if ($image) {