diff --git a/oml/changelog.py b/oml/changelog.py
index 482501e..444e7cd 100644
--- a/oml/changelog.py
+++ b/oml/changelog.py
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ class Changelog(db.Model):
         i = Item.get(itemid)
         if i:
             i.sync_metadata()
-            i.get_preview()
+            if state.tasks:
+                #state.tasks.queue('syncmetadata', [i.id])
+                state.tasks.queue('getpreview', i.id)
         return True
 
     def action_removeitem(self, user, timestamp, itemid):
diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 83ad7eb..3477211 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -791,8 +791,15 @@ def update_sort_table():
             s.commit()
 
 
+def get_preview(id):
+    #logger.debug('get_preview(%s)', id)
+    with db.session():
+        i = Item.get(id)
+        if i:
+            i.get_preview()
+
 def sync_metadata(ids=None):
-    #logger.debug('sync_metadata(%s)', len(ids) if ids else ids)
+    #logger.debug('sync_metadata(%s)', len(ids) if len(ids) > 10 else ids)
     step = 1000
     delay = 10
     with db.session():
@@ -808,6 +815,6 @@ def sync_metadata(ids=None):
                 i.sync_metadata()
         if later:
             if state.main and state.tasks:
-                state.main.call_later(delay, lambda: state.tasks.queue('syncmetadata', [later]))
+                state.main.call_later(delay, lambda: state.tasks.queue('syncmetadata', later))
         #else:
         #    logger.debug('sync_metadata done')
diff --git a/oml/nodes.py b/oml/nodes.py
index 54aa82a..d4d1dfd 100644
--- a/oml/nodes.py
+++ b/oml/nodes.py
@@ -369,12 +369,11 @@ class Node(Thread):
                 return True
             except:
                 logger.debug('preview download failed %s', url, exc_info=1)
-                return False
         elif code == 404:
             pass
         else:
             logger.debug('FAILED %s', url)
-            return False
+        return False
 
     def download_upgrade(self, release):
         for module in release['modules']:
@@ -422,7 +421,6 @@ class Nodes(Thread):
         Thread.__init__(self)
         self.daemon = True
         self.start()
-        self.pull()
 
     def cleanup(self):
         if self._running and self._local:
@@ -519,6 +517,8 @@ def update_online():
             'id': settings.USER_ID,
             'online': state.online
         })
+        if state.online and state.nodes:
+            state.nodes.pull()
 
     if settings.OLD_USER_ID and not settings.server.get('migrated_id', False):
         from . import directory
diff --git a/oml/tasks.py b/oml/tasks.py
index 248851a..7e31153 100644
--- a/oml/tasks.py
+++ b/oml/tasks.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Tasks(Thread):
 
     def run(self):
         import item.scan
-        from item.models import sync_metadata
+        from item.models import sync_metadata, get_preview
         from user.models import export_list, update_user_peering
         while self.connected:
             m = self.q.get()
@@ -29,22 +29,22 @@ class Tasks(Thread):
                 try:
                     action, data = m
                     logger.debug('%s start', action)
-                    if action == 'ping':
-                        trigger_event('pong', data)
+                    if action == 'export':
+                        export_list(data)
+                    elif action == 'getpreview':
+                        get_preview(data)
                     elif action == 'import':
                         item.scan.run_import(data)
-                    elif action == 'export':
-                        export_list(data)
+                    elif action == 'peering':
+                        update_user_peering(*data)
+                    elif action == 'ping':
+                        trigger_event('pong', data)
                     elif action == 'scan':
                         item.scan.run_scan()
                     elif action == 'scanimport':
                         item.scan.import_folder()
-                    elif action == 'peering':
-                        update_user_peering(*data)
                     elif action == 'syncmetadata':
-                        if not data:
-                            data = []
-                        sync_metadata(*data)
+                        sync_metadata(data)
                     else:
                         trigger_event('error', {'error': 'unknown action'})
                     logger.debug('%s done', action)
@@ -58,5 +58,6 @@ class Tasks(Thread):
         return Thread.join(self)
 
     def queue(self, action, data=None):
+        logger.debug('%s queued', action)
         self.q.put((action, data))