diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 4c9dd23..ebad0f9 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -101,16 +101,17 @@ io.use(iosess(session));
 io.on('connection', function(socket){
     //winston.info('a user connected');
     winston.info('session id, '+ socket.handshake.session.id);
-    if (!socket.handshake.session.passport.user) {
+    // next line no worky...but i can get by with only user-#.
+    //winston.info('user name, '+ socket.handshake.session.passport.user.username);
+    try { 
+        var userNum = socket.handshake.session.passport.user; 
+    } catch (ex) {
         // Send redirect to client, socket connection will close when client goes back to /login.
         // But disconnect just in case client is misbehaving.
         winston.info('Session DNE, redirect and disconnect.');
         socket.emit('redirect', '/login');
         socket.disconnect();
     }
-    // next line no worky...but might get by with only user-#.
-    //winston.info('user name, '+ socket.handshake.session.passport.user.username);
-    var userNum = socket.handshake.session.passport.user;
     winston.info('user id, '+ userNum);
     socket.join(userNum);
     var notePath, noteDir