diff --git a/craftingTurtle.lua b/craftingTurtle.lua
index 613db6d..376c685 100644
--- a/craftingTurtle.lua
+++ b/craftingTurtle.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@
 -- Pulls ingredients from chests, crafts, and pushes results back.
 -- Requires a wired modem attached to the turtle.
 
+local shell = _ENV.shell
+
+local function fatal(msg)
+    printError(msg)
+    print("\nPress any key to exit...")
+    os.pullEvent("key")
+    return
+end
+
 -------------------------------------------------
 -- Default configuration (overridden by .turtle_config)
 -------------------------------------------------
@@ -52,9 +61,7 @@ print("")
 
 -- Verify this is a crafting turtle
 if not turtle or not turtle.craft then
-    print("[ERR] No turtle.craft() available!")
-    print("      This must be a Crafting Turtle.")
-    return
+    return fatal("[ERR] No turtle.craft() available!\n      This must be a Crafting Turtle.")
 end
 
 -- Find wired modem and get our network name
@@ -78,10 +85,7 @@ for _, side in ipairs({"top", "bottom", "left", "right", "front", "back"}) do
 end
 
 if not modem or not selfName then
-    print("[ERR] No wired modem found!")
-    print("      Attach a wired modem to the turtle")
-    print("      and connect it to the network.")
-    return
+    return fatal("[ERR] No wired modem found!\n      Attach a wired modem to the turtle\n      and connect it to the network.")
 end
 
 print("[OK]   Modem: " .. modemSide)
@@ -94,9 +98,7 @@ print("[OK]   Listening on channel " .. CRAFT_CHANNEL)
 -- Wrap our own inventory peripheral for pullItems/pushItems
 local selfInv = peripheral.wrap(selfName)
 if not selfInv then
-    print("[ERR] Cannot wrap own peripheral: " .. selfName)
-    print("      Make sure the wired modem is connected.")
-    return
+    return fatal("[ERR] Cannot wrap own peripheral: " .. selfName .. "\n      Make sure the wired modem is connected.")
 end
 
 print("[OK]   Self-inventory peripheral ready")
@@ -266,20 +268,26 @@ end
 -- Main loop: listen for modem commands
 -------------------------------------------------
 
-while true do
-    local event, side, channel, replyChannel, message, distance = os.pullEvent("modem_message")
+local ok, err = pcall(function()
+    while true do
+        local event, side, channel, replyChannel, message, distance = os.pullEvent("modem_message")
 
-    if channel == CRAFT_CHANNEL and type(message) == "table" then
-        if message.type == "craft_request" then
-            local result = handleCraftCommand(message)
-            -- Send result back to master
-            modem.transmit(CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL, CRAFT_CHANNEL, result)
-        elseif message.type == "ping" then
-            -- Health check from master
-            modem.transmit(CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL, CRAFT_CHANNEL, {
-                type = "pong",
-                name = selfName,
-            })
+        if channel == CRAFT_CHANNEL and type(message) == "table" then
+            if message.type == "craft_request" then
+                local result = handleCraftCommand(message)
+                -- Send result back to master
+                modem.transmit(CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL, CRAFT_CHANNEL, result)
+            elseif message.type == "ping" then
+                -- Health check from master
+                modem.transmit(CRAFT_REPLY_CHANNEL, CRAFT_CHANNEL, {
+                    type = "pong",
+                    name = selfName,
+                })
+            end
         end
     end
+end)
+
+if not ok then
+    fatal("[ERR] Crafting turtle crashed:\n" .. tostring(err))
 end