diff --git a/connect_xmpp.sh b/connect_xmpp.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index dbf93c8..0000000
--- a/connect_xmpp.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/zsh
-################################################################################
-# connect_xmpp.sh - spawn xmpp-client in tmux windows
-#
-# author: mutantmonkey <mutantmonkey@mutantmonkey.in>
-################################################################################
-
-for session in "${XMPP_SESSIONS[@]}"; do
-    parts=("${(s/:/)session}")
-    window="${parts[1]}"
-    name="${parts[2]}"
-
-    tmux new-window -d -t "$window" -n "xmpp:$name" \
-        "xmpp-client -config-file $HOME/.config/xmpp-client/$name"
-    tmux set-window-option -t "$window" remain-on-exit on
-done
diff --git a/start_session.sh b/start_session.sh
index f1da812..2cfad1e 100755
--- a/start_session.sh
+++ b/start_session.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # defaults
 start_irc=0
-start_ncmpcpp=0
+start_ncmpcpp=1
 start_messaging=1
 
 # read arguments and set variables as appropriate
@@ -58,10 +58,23 @@ function restore_i3_layout {
 
 function connect_messaging {
     if [[ "$start_messaging" != 0 ]]; then
-        #nohup sh -c "sleep 5 && connect_xmpp.sh" >/dev/null 2>/dev/null &
-        nohup sh -c "sleep 5 && gtk-launch signal" >/dev/null 2>/dev/null &
-        nohup sh -c "sleep 5 && gtk-launch whatsapp" >/dev/null 2>/dev/null &
-        nohup sh -c "sleep 5 && gtk-launch telegramdesktop" >/dev/null 2>/dev/null &
+        i3-msg "workspace 3; append_layout $HOME/.config/i3/workspace-3.json"
+        sleep 5   && start_messengers_if_connected && return 0
+        sleep 10  && start_messengers_if_connected && return 0
+        sleep 25  && start_messengers_if_connected && return 0
+        sleep 60  && start_messengers_if_connected && return 0
+        sleep 125 && start_messengers_if_connected && return 0
+    fi
+}
+
+function start_messengers_if_connected {
+    if [[ "$(nmcli network connectivity)" == "full" ]]; then
+        gtk-launch signal-desktop
+        gtk-launch whatsapp
+        gtk-launch telegramdesktop
+        return 0
+    else
+        return 1
     fi
 }