diff --git a/packages/lib/SyncTargetAmazonS3.js b/packages/lib/SyncTargetAmazonS3.js
index 4f8f78a1c..9363cebf2 100644
--- a/packages/lib/SyncTargetAmazonS3.js
+++ b/packages/lib/SyncTargetAmazonS3.js
@@ -98,14 +98,14 @@ class SyncTargetAmazonS3 extends BaseSyncTarget {
 	// We could implement that here, but the above workaround saves some code.
 
 	static async checkConfig(options) {
-		const fileApi = await SyncTargetAmazonS3.newFileApi_(SyncTargetAmazonS3.id(), options);
-		fileApi.requestRepeatCount_ = 0;
-
 		const output = {
 			ok: false,
 			errorMessage: '',
 		};
 		try {
+			const fileApi = await SyncTargetAmazonS3.newFileApi_(SyncTargetAmazonS3.id(), options);
+			fileApi.requestRepeatCount_ = 0;
+
 			const headBucketReq = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
 				fileApi.driver().api().send(
 
diff --git a/packages/lib/commands/synchronize.ts b/packages/lib/commands/synchronize.ts
index 3ebcd70e3..c878a2639 100644
--- a/packages/lib/commands/synchronize.ts
+++ b/packages/lib/commands/synchronize.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const runtime = (): CommandRuntime => {
 					return 'auth';
 				}
 
-				reg.logger().info('Not authentified with sync target - please check your credential.');
+				reg.logger().error('Not authenticated with sync target - please check your credentials.');
 				return 'error';
 			}
 
@@ -43,8 +43,13 @@ export const runtime = (): CommandRuntime => {
 			try {
 				sync = await reg.syncTarget().synchronizer();
 			} catch (error) {
-				reg.logger().info('Could not acquire synchroniser:');
-				reg.logger().info(error);
+				reg.logger().error('Could not initialise synchroniser: ');
+				reg.logger().error(error);
+				error.message = `Could not initialise synchroniser: ${error.message}`;
+				utils.store.dispatch({
+					type: 'SYNC_REPORT_UPDATE',
+					report: { errors: [error] },
+				});
 				return 'error';
 			}
 
diff --git a/packages/lib/components/shared/side-menu-shared.js b/packages/lib/components/shared/side-menu-shared.js
index 94f8cda69..9e8a2548e 100644
--- a/packages/lib/components/shared/side-menu-shared.js
+++ b/packages/lib/components/shared/side-menu-shared.js
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ shared.synchronize_press = async function(comp) {
 			return 'auth';
 		}
 
-		reg.logger().info('Not authentified with sync target - please check your credential.');
+		reg.logger().error('Not authenticated with sync target - please check your credentials.');
 		return 'error';
 	}
 
@@ -113,8 +113,13 @@ shared.synchronize_press = async function(comp) {
 	try {
 		sync = await reg.syncTarget().synchronizer();
 	} catch (error) {
-		reg.logger().info('Could not acquire synchroniser:');
-		reg.logger().info(error);
+		reg.logger().error('Could not initialise synchroniser: ');
+		reg.logger().error(error);
+		error.message = `Could not initialise synchroniser: ${error.message}`;
+		comp.props.dispatch({
+			type: 'SYNC_REPORT_UPDATE',
+			report: { errors: [error] },
+		});
 		return 'error';
 	}