diff --git a/melib/src/backends.rs b/melib/src/backends.rs
index a6d0b1ba..bfdc5a32 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends.rs
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ pub enum FolderOperation {
 type NewFolderName = String;
 
 pub trait MailBackend: ::std::fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool;
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()>;
     fn get(&mut self, folder: &Folder) -> Async<Result<Vec<Envelope>>>;
     fn watch(
         &self,
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/imap.rs b/melib/src/backends/imap.rs
index 7f92daa4..8b3fabec 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/imap.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/imap.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ use std::collections::{hash_map::DefaultHasher, BTreeMap};
 use std::hash::Hasher;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
+use std::time::Instant;
 pub type UID = usize;
 
 pub static SUPPORTED_CAPABILITIES: &'static [&'static str] =
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ pub struct UIDStore {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ImapType {
     account_name: String,
-    online: Arc<Mutex<bool>>,
+    online: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
     is_subscribed: Arc<IsSubscribedFn>,
     connection: Arc<Mutex<ImapConnection>>,
     server_conf: ImapServerConf,
@@ -135,8 +136,8 @@ pub struct ImapType {
 }
 
 impl MailBackend for ImapType {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool {
-        *self.online.lock().unwrap()
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.online.lock().unwrap().1.clone()
     }
     fn get(&mut self, folder: &Folder) -> Async<Result<Vec<Envelope>>> {
         macro_rules! exit_on_error {
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ impl MailBackend for ImapType {
     ) -> Result<std::thread::ThreadId> {
         let folders = self.folders.clone();
         let tag_index = self.tag_index.clone();
-        let conn = ImapConnection::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        let conn = ImapConnection::new_connection(&self.server_conf, self.online.clone());
         let main_conn = self.connection.clone();
         let is_online = self.online.clone();
         let uid_store = self.uid_store.clone();
@@ -342,7 +343,6 @@ impl MailBackend for ImapType {
             f.children.retain(|c| keys.contains(c));
         }
         drop(uid_lock);
-        *self.online.lock().unwrap() = true;
         Ok(folders
             .iter()
             .map(|(h, f)| (*h, Box::new(Clone::clone(f)) as Folder))
@@ -510,11 +510,15 @@ impl ImapType {
             use_starttls,
             danger_accept_invalid_certs,
         };
-        let connection = ImapConnection::new_connection(&server_conf);
+        let online = Arc::new(Mutex::new((
+            Instant::now(),
+            Err(MeliError::new("Account is uninitialised.")),
+        )));
+        let connection = ImapConnection::new_connection(&server_conf, online.clone());
 
         Ok(Box::new(ImapType {
             account_name: s.name().to_string(),
-            online: Arc::new(Mutex::new(false)),
+            online,
             server_conf,
             is_subscribed: Arc::new(IsSubscribedFn(is_subscribed)),
 
@@ -532,7 +536,7 @@ impl ImapType {
     }
 
     pub fn shell(&mut self) {
-        let mut conn = ImapConnection::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        let mut conn = ImapConnection::new_connection(&self.server_conf, self.online.clone());
         let mut res = String::with_capacity(8 * 1024);
         conn.send_command(b"NOOP").unwrap();
         conn.read_response(&mut res).unwrap();
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/imap/connection.rs b/melib/src/backends/imap/connection.rs
index 65fe835a..a2b23989 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/imap/connection.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/imap/connection.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ use fnv::FnvHashSet;
 use native_tls::TlsConnector;
 use std::iter::FromIterator;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 use super::protocol_parser;
 use super::{Capabilities, ImapServerConf};
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ pub struct ImapConnection {
     pub stream: Result<ImapStream>,
     pub server_conf: ImapServerConf,
     pub capabilities: Capabilities,
+    pub online: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
 }
 
 impl Drop for ImapStream {
@@ -317,11 +320,15 @@ impl ImapStream {
 }
 
 impl ImapConnection {
-    pub fn new_connection(server_conf: &ImapServerConf) -> ImapConnection {
+    pub fn new_connection(
+        server_conf: &ImapServerConf,
+        online: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
+    ) -> ImapConnection {
         ImapConnection {
             stream: Err(MeliError::new("Offline".to_string())),
             server_conf: server_conf.clone(),
             capabilities: Capabilities::default(),
+            online,
         }
     }
 
@@ -331,7 +338,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.read_response(ret);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -346,7 +362,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.read_lines(ret, &termination_string);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -361,7 +386,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.wait_for_continuation_request();
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -376,7 +410,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(ret);
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.send_command(command);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -391,7 +434,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.send_literal(data);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -406,8 +458,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
-
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.send_raw(raw);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
@@ -422,7 +482,16 @@ impl ImapConnection {
                 return Ok(());
             }
         }
-        let (capabilities, mut stream) = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf)?;
+        let new_stream = ImapStream::new_connection(&self.server_conf);
+        if new_stream.is_err() {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (
+                Instant::now(),
+                Err(new_stream.as_ref().unwrap_err().clone()),
+            );
+        } else {
+            *self.online.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::now(), Ok(()));
+        }
+        let (capabilities, mut stream) = new_stream?;
         let ret = stream.set_nonblocking(val);
         if ret.is_ok() {
             self.stream = Ok(stream);
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/imap/watch.rs b/melib/src/backends/imap/watch.rs
index 1a92f433..87426cf9 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/imap/watch.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/imap/watch.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
 /// Arguments for IMAP watching functions
 pub struct ImapWatchKit {
     pub conn: ImapConnection,
-    pub is_online: Arc<Mutex<bool>>,
+    pub is_online: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
     pub main_conn: Arc<Mutex<ImapConnection>>,
     pub uid_store: Arc<UIDStore>,
     pub folders: Arc<RwLock<FnvHashMap<FolderHash, ImapFolder>>>,
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub fn poll_with_examine(kit: ImapWatchKit) -> Result<()> {
         tag_index,
     } = kit;
     loop {
-        if *is_online.lock().unwrap() {
+        if is_online.lock().unwrap().1.is_ok() {
             break;
         }
         std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ pub fn idle(kit: ImapWatchKit) -> Result<()> {
         tag_index,
     } = kit;
     loop {
-        if *is_online.lock().unwrap() {
+        if is_online.lock().unwrap().1.is_ok() {
             break;
         }
         std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/jmap.rs b/melib/src/backends/jmap.rs
index 1537b338..4a574b43 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/jmap.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/jmap.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ use reqwest::blocking::Client;
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, RwLock};
+use std::time::Instant;
 
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! _impl {
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ pub struct Store {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct JmapType {
     account_name: String,
-    online: Arc<Mutex<bool>>,
+    online: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
     is_subscribed: Arc<IsSubscribedFn>,
     server_conf: JmapServerConf,
     connection: Arc<JmapConnection>,
@@ -192,8 +193,8 @@ pub struct JmapType {
 }
 
 impl MailBackend for JmapType {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool {
-        *self.online.lock().unwrap()
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.online.lock().unwrap().1.clone()
     }
     fn get(&mut self, folder: &Folder) -> Async<Result<Vec<Envelope>>> {
         let mut w = AsyncBuilder::new();
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ impl JmapType {
         s: &AccountSettings,
         is_subscribed: Box<dyn Fn(&str) -> bool + Send + Sync>,
     ) -> Result<Box<dyn MailBackend>> {
-        let online = Arc::new(Mutex::new(false));
+        let online = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Err(MeliError::new("Account is uninitialised."))));
         let server_conf = JmapServerConf::new(s)?;
 
         Ok(Box::new(JmapType {
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/jmap/connection.rs b/melib/src/backends/jmap/connection.rs
index dfa0cfe4..ea520b3a 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/jmap/connection.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/jmap/connection.rs
@@ -26,16 +26,17 @@ pub struct JmapConnection {
     pub session: JmapSession,
     pub request_no: Arc<Mutex<usize>>,
     pub client: Arc<Mutex<Client>>,
-    pub online_status: Arc<Mutex<bool>>,
+    pub online_status: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>,
     pub server_conf: JmapServerConf,
     pub account_id: Arc<Mutex<String>>,
     pub method_call_states: Arc<Mutex<FnvHashMap<&'static str, String>>>,
 }
 
 impl JmapConnection {
-    pub fn new(server_conf: &JmapServerConf, online_status: Arc<Mutex<bool>>) -> Result<Self> {
+    pub fn new(server_conf: &JmapServerConf, online_status: Arc<Mutex<(Instant, Result<()>)>>) -> Result<Self> {
         use reqwest::header;
         let mut headers = header::HeaderMap::new();
+        let connection_start = std::time::Instant::now();
         headers.insert(
             header::ACCEPT,
             header::HeaderValue::from_static("application/json"),
@@ -68,20 +69,29 @@ impl JmapConnection {
             .send()?;
         let res_text = req.text()?;
 
-        let session: JmapSession = serde_json::from_str(&res_text).map_err(|_| MeliError::new(format!("Could not connect to JMAP server endpoint for {}. Is your server hostname setting correct? (i.e. \"jmap.mailserver.org\") (Note: only session resource discovery via /.well-known/jmap is supported. DNS SRV records are not suppported.)", &server_conf.server_hostname)))?;
+        let session: JmapSession = serde_json::from_str(&res_text).map_err(|_| {
+            let err = MeliError::new(format!("Could not connect to JMAP server endpoint for {}. Is your server hostname setting correct? (i.e. \"jmap.mailserver.org\") (Note: only session resource discovery via /.well-known/jmap is supported. DNS SRV records are not suppported.)", &server_conf.server_hostname);
+                *online_status.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::new(), Err(err.clone()));
+                err
+                ))?;
         if !session
             .capabilities
             .contains_key("urn:ietf:params:jmap:core")
         {
-            return Err(MeliError::new(format!("Server {} did not return JMAP Core capability (urn:ietf:params:jmap:core). Returned capabilities were: {}", &server_conf.server_hostname, session.capabilities.keys().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<&str>>().join(", "))));
+            let err = Err(MeliError::new(format!("Server {} did not return JMAP Core capability (urn:ietf:params:jmap:core). Returned capabilities were: {}", &server_conf.server_hostname, session.capabilities.keys().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<&str>>().join(", "))));
+                *online_status.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::new(), Err(err.clone()));
+                return err;
         }
         if !session
             .capabilities
             .contains_key("urn:ietf:params:jmap:mail")
         {
-            return Err(MeliError::new(format!("Server {} does not support JMAP Mail capability (urn:ietf:params:jmap:mail). Returned capabilities were: {}", &server_conf.server_hostname, session.capabilities.keys().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<&str>>().join(", "))));
+            let err = Err(MeliError::new(format!("Server {} does not support JMAP Mail capability (urn:ietf:params:jmap:mail). Returned capabilities were: {}", &server_conf.server_hostname, session.capabilities.keys().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<&str>>().join(", "))));
+                *online_status.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::new(), Err(err.clone()));
+                return err;
         }
 
+        *online_status.lock().unwrap() = (Instant::new(), Ok(()));
         let server_conf = server_conf.clone();
         Ok(JmapConnection {
             session,
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/maildir/backend.rs b/melib/src/backends/maildir/backend.rs
index e26ff9e6..288c7ce7 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/maildir/backend.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/maildir/backend.rs
@@ -184,8 +184,8 @@ fn move_to_cur(p: PathBuf) -> Result<PathBuf> {
 }
 
 impl MailBackend for MaildirType {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool {
-        true
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     fn folders(&self) -> Result<FnvHashMap<FolderHash, Folder>> {
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/mbox.rs b/melib/src/backends/mbox.rs
index f10674d4..c0a254c9 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/mbox.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/mbox.rs
@@ -370,8 +370,8 @@ pub struct MboxType {
 }
 
 impl MailBackend for MboxType {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool {
-        true
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
     }
     fn get(&mut self, folder: &Folder) -> Async<Result<Vec<Envelope>>> {
         let mut w = AsyncBuilder::new();
diff --git a/melib/src/backends/notmuch.rs b/melib/src/backends/notmuch.rs
index 95582d2b..708d022a 100644
--- a/melib/src/backends/notmuch.rs
+++ b/melib/src/backends/notmuch.rs
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ impl NotmuchDb {
 }
 
 impl MailBackend for NotmuchDb {
-    fn is_online(&self) -> bool {
-        true
+    fn is_online(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
     }
     fn get(&mut self, folder: &Folder) -> Async<Result<Vec<Envelope>>> {
         let mut w = AsyncBuilder::new();
diff --git a/ui/src/components/mail/listing.rs b/ui/src/components/mail/listing.rs
index ed80ec08..bd705499 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/mail/listing.rs
+++ b/ui/src/components/mail/listing.rs
@@ -295,29 +295,10 @@ impl Component for Listing {
         }
 
         if right_component_width == total_cols {
-            if !context.is_online(self.cursor_pos.0) {
+            if let Err(err) = context.is_online(self.cursor_pos.0) {
                 clear_area(grid, area);
-                write_string_to_grid(
-                    "offline",
-                    grid,
-                    Color::Byte(243),
-                    Color::Default,
-                    Attr::Default,
-                    area,
-                    None,
-                );
-                context.dirty_areas.push_back(area);
-                return;
-            }
-            self.component.draw(grid, area, context);
-        } else if right_component_width == 0 {
-            self.draw_menu(grid, area, context);
-        } else {
-            self.draw_menu(grid, (upper_left, (mid, get_y(bottom_right))), context);
-            if !context.is_online(self.cursor_pos.0) {
-                clear_area(grid, (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right));
-                write_string_to_grid(
-                    "offline",
+                let (x, _) = write_string_to_grid(
+                    "offline: ",
                     grid,
                     Color::Byte(243),
                     Color::Default,
@@ -325,11 +306,49 @@ impl Component for Listing {
                     (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right),
                     None,
                 );
+                write_string_to_grid(
+                    &err.to_string(),
+                    grid,
+                    Color::Red,
+                    Color::Default,
+                    Attr::Default,
+                    (set_x(upper_left, x + 1), bottom_right),
+                    None,
+                );
                 context.dirty_areas.push_back(area);
                 return;
+            } else {
+                self.component.draw(grid, area, context);
+            }
+        } else if right_component_width == 0 {
+            self.draw_menu(grid, area, context);
+        } else {
+            self.draw_menu(grid, (upper_left, (mid, get_y(bottom_right))), context);
+            if let Err(err) = context.is_online(self.cursor_pos.0) {
+                clear_area(grid, (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right));
+                let (x, _) = write_string_to_grid(
+                    "offline: ",
+                    grid,
+                    Color::Byte(243),
+                    Color::Default,
+                    Attr::Default,
+                    (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right),
+                    None,
+                );
+                write_string_to_grid(
+                    &err.to_string(),
+                    grid,
+                    Color::Red,
+                    Color::Default,
+                    Attr::Default,
+                    (set_x(upper_left, x + 1), bottom_right),
+                    None,
+                );
+                context.dirty_areas.push_back(area);
+            } else {
+                self.component
+                    .draw(grid, (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right), context);
             }
-            self.component
-                .draw(grid, (set_x(upper_left, mid + 1), bottom_right), context);
         }
         self.dirty = false;
     }
diff --git a/ui/src/conf/accounts.rs b/ui/src/conf/accounts.rs
index bbe6cdef..145589ef 100644
--- a/ui/src/conf/accounts.rs
+++ b/ui/src/conf/accounts.rs
@@ -991,12 +991,12 @@ impl Account {
 
     /* Call only in Context::is_online, since only Context can launch the watcher threads if an
      * account goes from offline to online. */
-    pub fn is_online(&mut self) -> bool {
+    pub fn is_online(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
         let ret = self.backend.read().unwrap().is_online();
-        if ret != self.is_online && ret {
+        if ret.is_ok() != self.is_online && ret.is_ok() {
             self.init();
         }
-        self.is_online = ret;
+        self.is_online = ret.is_ok();
         ret
     }
 
diff --git a/ui/src/state.rs b/ui/src/state.rs
index c1bed88f..79c75679 100644
--- a/ui/src/state.rs
+++ b/ui/src/state.rs
@@ -135,14 +135,15 @@ impl Context {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn is_online(&mut self, account_pos: usize) -> bool {
+    pub fn is_online(&mut self, account_pos: usize) -> Result<()> {
         let Context {
             ref mut accounts,
             ref mut mailbox_hashes,
             ..
         } = self;
         let was_online = accounts[account_pos].is_online;
-        if accounts[account_pos].is_online() {
+        let ret = accounts[account_pos].is_online();
+        if ret.is_ok() {
             if !was_online {
                 for folder in accounts[account_pos].list_folders() {
                     debug!("hash & folder: {:?} {}", folder.hash(), folder.name());
@@ -157,10 +158,8 @@ impl Context {
                  */
                 accounts[account_pos].watch();
             }
-            true
-        } else {
-            false
         }
+        ret
     }
 
     pub fn work_controller(&self) -> &WorkController {
@@ -291,7 +290,7 @@ impl State {
         s.switch_to_alternate_screen();
         debug!("inserting mailbox hashes:");
         for i in 0..s.context.accounts.len() {
-            if s.context.is_online(i) && s.context.accounts[i].is_empty() {
+            if s.context.is_online(i).is_ok() && s.context.accounts[i].is_empty() {
                 return Err(MeliError::new(format!(
                     "Account {} has no folders configured.",
                     s.context.accounts[i].name()
@@ -722,7 +721,7 @@ impl State {
     pub fn check_accounts(&mut self) {
         let mut ctr = 0;
         for i in 0..self.context.accounts.len() {
-            if self.context.is_online(i) {
+            if self.context.is_online(i).is_ok() {
                 ctr += 1;
             }
         }