diff --git a/basicswap/basicswap.py b/basicswap/basicswap.py
index 79a5d16..23396f0 100644
--- a/basicswap/basicswap.py
+++ b/basicswap/basicswap.py
@@ -999,6 +999,12 @@ class BasicSwap(BaseApp):
                     except Exception as e:
                         self.log.error("Sanity checks failed: %s", str(e))
 
+                elif c in (Coins.XMR, Coins.WOW):
+                    try:
+                        ci.ensureWalletExists()
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        self.log.warning("Can't open %s wallet, could be locked.", ci.coin_name())
+                        continue
                 elif c == Coins.LTC:
                     ci_mweb = self.ci(Coins.LTC_MWEB)
                     is_encrypted, _ = self.getLockedState()
diff --git a/basicswap/interface/xmr.py b/basicswap/interface/xmr.py
index 80cb7c1..355cab2 100644
--- a/basicswap/interface/xmr.py
+++ b/basicswap/interface/xmr.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ class XMRInterface(CoinInterface):
                     log_str: str = ""
                     have_cc_tor_opt = "use_tor" in chain_client_settings
                     if have_cc_tor_opt and chain_client_settings["use_tor"] is False:
-                        log_str = " bypassing proxy (use_tor false for XMR)"
+                        log_str = f" bypassing proxy (use_tor false for {self.coin_name()})"
                     elif have_cc_tor_opt is False and is_private_ip_address(rpchost):
                         log_str = " bypassing proxy (private ip address)"
                     else:
@@ -186,16 +186,19 @@ class XMRInterface(CoinInterface):
             self.rpc_wallet("open_wallet", params)
             # TODO Remove `refresh` after upstream fix to refresh on open_wallet
             self.rpc_wallet("refresh")
-        except Exception:
-            self._log.debug(f"Failed to open {self.coin_name()} wallet")
+        except Exception as e:
+            if "no connection to daemon" in str(e):
+                self._log.debug(f"{self.coin_name()} {e}")
+                return  # bypass refresh error to allow startup with a busy daemon
+
             try:
                 # TODO Remove `store` after upstream fix to autosave on close_wallet
                 self.rpc_wallet("store")
                 self.rpc_wallet("close_wallet")
                 self._log.debug(f"Attempt to save and close {self.coin_name()} wallet")
             except Exception as e:
-                self._log.debug(f"{self.coin_name()}: {e}")
                 pass
+
             self.rpc_wallet("open_wallet", params)
             # TODO Remove `refresh` after upstream fix to refresh on open_wallet
             self.rpc_wallet("refresh")