diff --git a/home.admin/60finishHDD.sh b/home.admin/60finishHDD.sh
index 5ae37089d..2d7e68cb5 100755
--- a/home.admin/60finishHDD.sh
+++ b/home.admin/60finishHDD.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ if [ ${mountOK} -eq 1 ]; then
    echo "*** Prepare ${network} ***"
    sudo killall -u bitcoin
    sleep 5
-   sudo rm -r /home/bitcoin/.${network}
+   sudo rm -r /home/bitcoin/.${network} 2>/dev/null
    sleep 2
    if [ -d /home/bitcoin/.${network} ]; then
      echo "FAIL - /home/bitcoin/.${network} exists and cannot be removed!"
diff --git a/home.admin/70initLND.sh b/home.admin/70initLND.sh
index 6bbd66259..426c33f09 100755
--- a/home.admin/70initLND.sh
+++ b/home.admin/70initLND.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ chain=$(${network}-cli -datadir=/home/bitcoin/.${network} getblockchaininfo | jq
 
 # verify that bitcoin is running
 echo "*** Checking ${network} ***"
-bitcoinRunning=$(sudo -u bitcoin ${network}-cli getblockchaininfo | grep -c blocks)
+bitcoinRunning=$(systemctl status ${network}d.service 2>/dev/null | grep -c running)
 if [ ${bitcoinRunning} -eq 0 ]; then
   # HDD is not available yet
   echo "FAIL - ${network}d is not running"