diff --git a/oml/nodes.py b/oml/nodes.py
index d2a0519..367b0f9 100644
--- a/oml/nodes.py
+++ b/oml/nodes.py
@@ -202,29 +202,29 @@ class Node(Thread):
 
     def _send_response(self):
         with db.session():
-            u = user.models.User.get_or_create(self.user_id)
-            if u.peered or u.queued:
+            u = user.models.User.get(self.user_id)
+            if u and u.peered or u.queued:
                 if DEBUG_NODES:
                     logger.debug('go online peered=%s queued=%s %s (%s)', u.peered, u.queued, u.id, u.nickname)
                 try:
                     self.online = self.can_connect()
-                    if self.online:
-                        if DEBUG_NODES:
-                            logger.debug('connected to %s', self.url)
-                        if u.queued:
-                            if DEBUG_NODES:
-                                logger.debug('queued peering event pending=%s peered=%s', u.pending, u.peered)
-                            if u.pending == 'sent':
-                                self.peering('requestPeering')
-                            elif u.pending == '' and u.peered:
-                                self.peering('acceptPeering')
-                            else:
-                                #fixme, what about cancel/reject peering here?
-                                self.peering('removePeering')
                 except:
                     if DEBUG_NODES:
                         logger.debug('failed to connect to %s', self.user_id)
                     self.online = False
+                if self.online:
+                    if DEBUG_NODES:
+                        logger.debug('connected to %s', self.url)
+                    if u.queued:
+                        if DEBUG_NODES:
+                            logger.debug('queued peering event pending=%s peered=%s', u.pending, u.peered)
+                        if u.pending == 'sent':
+                            self.peering('requestPeering')
+                        elif u.pending == '' and u.peered:
+                            self.peering('acceptPeering')
+                        else:
+                            #fixme, what about cancel/reject peering here?
+                            self.peering('removePeering')
 
     def trigger_status(self):
         if self.online is not None: