diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index b98edc2..4d5fe80 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (s *serverConnection) handleAuthRequest(requestId int, body json.RawMessage
 	s.key = auth.Key
 	// s.sendMeta("hello, %s", auth.Nick)
 	if err := s.openDB(); err != nil {
-		error_log.Printf("failed to open database: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open user database: %v", err)
 	}
 	b, err := s.db.Get([]byte("public_key"), nil)
 	switch err {
diff --git a/whisper.go b/whisper.go
index 4e30f25..bbd2a22 100644
--- a/whisper.go
+++ b/whisper.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 )
 
-const keyLength = 4096
+const keyLength = 2048
 
 var (
 	info_log  *log.Logger