diff --git a/cmd/audio-player/looper/main.go b/cmd/audio-player/looper/main.go
index da48434c..1a5043d8 100644
--- a/cmd/audio-player/looper/main.go
+++ b/cmd/audio-player/looper/main.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Infinite loop that outputs audio and gathers debug information.
 	var numPlays int
+	var fatal bool
 	for {
 		numPlays++
 		log.Log(logger.Debug, "playing audio", "play number", numPlays)
@@ -91,7 +92,8 @@ func main() {
 
 		err = cmd.Start()
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Log(logger.Fatal, "cmd.Start() for 'play' failed", "error", err.Error())
+			log.Log(logger.Error, "cmd.Start() failed", "error", err.Error())
+			fatal = true
 		}
 
 		var wg sync.WaitGroup
@@ -107,13 +109,19 @@ func main() {
 
 		err = cmd.Wait()
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Log(logger.Fatal, "cmd.Run() for 'play' failed", "error", err.Error())
+			log.Log(logger.Error, "cmd.Run() failed", "error", err.Error())
+			fatal = true
 		}
 		if errStdout != nil || errStderr != nil {
-			log.Log(logger.Fatal, "failed to capture stdout or stderr")
+			log.Log(logger.Error, "failed to capture stdout or stderr")
+			fatal = true
 		}
 		outStr, errStr := string(stdoutBuf.Bytes()), string(stderrBuf.Bytes())
 		log.Log(logger.Debug, "stdout received", "stdout", outStr)
 		log.Log(logger.Debug, "stderr received", "stderr", errStr)
+
+		if fatal == true {
+			log.Log(logger.Fatal, "a fatal error has occured while trying to play (see above)")
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/audio-player/looper/rc.local b/cmd/audio-player/looper/rc.local
index 962b0166..e08fc6cf 100644
--- a/cmd/audio-player/looper/rc.local
+++ b/cmd/audio-player/looper/rc.local
@@ -10,6 +10,6 @@ set -x                         # tell sh to display commands before execution
 PLAYERPATH=/home/pi/go/src/bitbucket.org/ausocean/av/cmd/audio-player/looper
 cd $PLAYERPATH
 
-./looper &
+sudo ./looper -path=/home/pi/example.mp3 &
 
-exit 0
\ No newline at end of file
+exit 0