diff --git a/src/boards.go b/src/boards.go
index 3067dae..63675b4 100644
--- a/src/boards.go
+++ b/src/boards.go
@@ -57,6 +57,6 @@ func InitBoards() {
 	var b board.Board
 	for i := range boards {
 		b = *boards[i]
-		b.Initialize()
+		go b.Initialize()
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/mqtt/mqtt.go b/src/mqtt/mqtt.go
index 2112519..312df61 100644
--- a/src/mqtt/mqtt.go
+++ b/src/mqtt/mqtt.go
@@ -90,12 +90,18 @@ func Disconnect() {
 }
 
 func Publish(topic string, value string) {
+	if MQTTclient == nil {
+		return
+	}
 	if MQTTclient.IsConnected() {
 		MQTTclient.Publish(viper.GetString("Mqtt.Prefix")+"/switch/"+topic, 0, false, value)
 	}
 }
 
 func PublishRoot(topic string, value string) {
+	if MQTTclient == nil {
+		return
+	}
 	if MQTTclient.IsConnected() {
 		MQTTclient.Publish(topic, 0, false, value)
 	}