diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0a420e4..fb064a4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ In your `clevis.json` config file, change:
 USE_INFURA: true
 ```
 
-Create a `.env file` and add your private key under mnemonic:
+Create a `.env file` and add your mnemonic:
 
 ```
-mnemonic=32h42hj34mysuperprivakeyasdasd2h34hjk234
+mnemonic="help help help help help help help help help help help help"
 ```
 
 ## troubleshooting
diff --git a/clevis.js b/clevis.js
index 89de6b1..caf0e33 100644
--- a/clevis.js
+++ b/clevis.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ async function execute(name, ...args) {
     return result
   } catch(e) {
     winston.error(e)
+    return e
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/commands/deploy.js b/commands/deploy.js
index 0269512..2260287 100644
--- a/commands/deploy.js
+++ b/commands/deploy.js
@@ -77,8 +77,13 @@ function deploy(params,accounts,contractarguments,bytecode,abi, accountIndex) {
       gas: params.config.deploygas,
       gasPrice: params.config.gasprice
     }, function(error, transactionHash){
-      winston.debug(`CALLBACK: ${error}\n${transactionHash}`)
-      checkForReceipt(2,params,transactionHash,resolve)
+      if (error) {
+        winston.debug(`CALLBACK: ${error}\n${transactionHash}`)
+        reject(error)
+      } else {
+        winston.debug(`CALLBACK: ${transactionHash}`)
+        checkForReceipt(2,params,transactionHash,resolve,reject)
+      }
     })
   })
 }
diff --git a/utils.js b/utils.js
index b50386f..40899af 100644
--- a/utils.js
+++ b/utils.js
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 const winston = require('winston')
 
-function checkForReceipt(backoffMs, params, transactionHash, resolve) {
+function checkForReceipt(backoffMs, params, transactionHash, resolve, reject) {
   params.web3.eth.getTransactionReceipt(transactionHash,(error,result) => {
+    if (error) {
+        reject(error)
+    }
     if(result && result.transactionHash){
       winston.debug(result)
       resolve(result)