diff --git a/src/netcontroller/torcontrol/onionservicecreator.py b/src/netcontroller/torcontrol/onionservicecreator.py
index ddb814bd..f8600499 100644
--- a/src/netcontroller/torcontrol/onionservicecreator.py
+++ b/src/netcontroller/torcontrol/onionservicecreator.py
@@ -2,9 +2,13 @@
 
 Create an ephemeral onion service
 """
+import stem
+
 from .torcontroller import get_controller
 
 from filepaths import ephemeral_services_file
+
+import logger
 """
     This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
     it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -22,7 +26,11 @@ from filepaths import ephemeral_services_file
 
 
 def create_onion_service(port=80, record_to_service_removal_file=True):
-    controller = get_controller()
+    try:
+        controller = get_controller()
+    except stem.SocketError:
+        logger.error("Could not connect to Tor control")
+        raise
     hs = controller.create_ephemeral_hidden_service(
         {80: port},
         key_type='NEW',
diff --git a/src/onionrcommands/daemonlaunch/__init__.py b/src/onionrcommands/daemonlaunch/__init__.py
index 29a1321e..c3b5a89d 100755
--- a/src/onionrcommands/daemonlaunch/__init__.py
+++ b/src/onionrcommands/daemonlaunch/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import platform
 from threading import Thread
 
 from stem.connection import IncorrectPassword
+import stem
 import toomanyobjs
 import filenuke
 from deadsimplekv import DeadSimpleKV
@@ -73,9 +74,11 @@ def _show_info_messages():
                 (logger.colors.underline +
                  getourkeypair.get_keypair()[0][:52]))
 
-def _setup_online_mode(use_existing_tor: bool,
-                   net: NetController,
-                   security_level: int):
+
+def _setup_online_mode(
+        use_existing_tor: bool,
+        net: NetController,
+        security_level: int):
     if config.get('transports.tor', True):
         # If we are using tor, check if we are using an existing tor instance
         # if we are, we need to create an onion service on it and set attrs on our NetController
@@ -89,6 +92,12 @@ def _setup_online_mode(use_existing_tor: bool,
             try:
                 net.myID = create_onion_service(
                     port=net.apiServerIP + ':' + str(net.hsPort))[0]
+            except stem.SocketError:
+                logger.error(
+                    "Could not connect to existing Tor service", terminal=True)
+                localcommand.local_command('shutdown')
+                cleanup.delete_run_files()
+                sys.exit(1)
             except IncorrectPassword:
                 # Exit if we cannot connect to the existing Tor instance
                 logger.error('Invalid Tor control password', terminal=True)
diff --git a/static-data/default_config.json b/static-data/default_config.json
index 1aba4f7c..4846991a 100755
--- a/static-data/default_config.json
+++ b/static-data/default_config.json
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
         "disk": 1073741824
     },
     "general": {
+        "allow_public_api_dns_rebinding": false,
         "announce_node": true,
         "dev_mode": false,
         "display_header": true,