diff --git a/data/interfaces/default/css/tautulli.css b/data/interfaces/default/css/tautulli.css
index f2118fab..61566265 100644
--- a/data/interfaces/default/css/tautulli.css
+++ b/data/interfaces/default/css/tautulli.css
@@ -750,7 +750,9 @@ a .users-poster-face:hover {
     position: relative;
 }
 #dashboard-checking-activity,
-#dashboard-no-activity {
+#dashboard-no-activity,
+#dashboard-checking-recently-added,
+#dashboard-no-recently-added {
     margin-bottom: 20px;
 }
 .dashboard-activity-instance {
@@ -1446,9 +1448,6 @@ a:hover .dashboard-stats-square {
     -moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 2px #e9a049;
     box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 2px #e9a049;
 }
-#dashboard-no-recently-added {
-    margin-bottom: 20px;
-}
 .dashboard-recent-media-row {
     width: 100%;
     margin: 0 auto;
diff --git a/data/interfaces/default/index.html b/data/interfaces/default/index.html
index 8a92f4f4..2936c774 100644
--- a/data/interfaces/default/index.html
+++ b/data/interfaces/default/index.html
@@ -24,17 +24,13 @@
             </div>
             <div id="currentActivity">
                 % if PLEX_SERVER_UP:
-                <div class="text-muted" id="dashboard-checking-activity"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i> Checking for activity...</div>
+                <div class="text-muted" id="dashboard-checking-activity"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Checking for activity...</div>
                 % elif config['pms_is_cloud']:
                 <div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">Plex Cloud server is sleeping.</div>
                 % elif not config['first_run_complete']:
                 <div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">The Tautulli setup wizard has not been completed. Please click <a href="welcome">here</a> to go to the setup wizard.</div>
                 % else:
-                <div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">There was an error communicating with your Plex Server.
-                    % if _session['user_group'] == 'admin':
-                    Check the <a href="logs">logs</a> and verify your server connection in the <a href="settings#tab_tabs-plex_media_server">settings</a>.
-                    % endif
-                </div>
+                <div class="text-muted" id="dashboard-checking-activity"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Tautulli is connecting to the Plex server...</div>
                 % endif
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -65,7 +61,7 @@
     <div class="row">
         <div class="col-md-12">
             <div id="home-stats" class="home-platforms">
-                <div class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i> Loading stats...</div>
+                <div class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Loading stats...</div>
                 <br>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -84,7 +80,7 @@
     <div class="row">
         <div class="col-md-12">
             <div id="library-stats" class="library-platforms">
-                <div class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i> Loading stats...</div>
+                <div class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Loading stats...</div>
                 <br>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -132,17 +128,12 @@
         <div class="col-md-12">
             <div id="recentlyAdded" style="margin-right: -15px;">
                 % if PLEX_SERVER_UP:
-                <div class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i> Looking for new items...</div>
+                <div id="dashboard-checking-recently-added" class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Looking for new items...</div>
                 % elif config['pms_is_cloud']:
                 <div class="text-muted">Plex Cloud server is sleeping.</div>
                 % else:
-                <div class="text-muted">There was an error communicating with your Plex Server.
-                    % if _session['user_group'] == 'admin':
-                    Check the <a href="logs">logs</a> and verify your server connection in the <a href="settings#tab_tabs-plex_media_server">settings</a>.
-                    % endif
-                </div>
+                <div id="dashboard-no-recently-added" class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Tautulli is connecting to your Plex server...</div>
                 % endif
-                <br>
             </div>
         </div>
     </div>
@@ -229,7 +220,6 @@
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="javascriptIncludes()">
-<% from plexpy import PLEX_SERVER_UP %>
 <script src="${http_root}js/jquery.scrollbar.min.js"></script>
 <script src="${http_root}js/jquery.mousewheel.min.js"></script>
 <script>
@@ -259,8 +249,33 @@
             }
         });
     }
+
+    % if _session['user_group'] == 'admin':
+    var msg_settings = ' Check the <a href="logs">logs</a> and verify your server connection in the <a href="settings#tab_tabs-plex_media_server">settings</a>.';
+    % else:
+    var msg_settings = '';
+    % endif
+
+    var error_msg = 'There was an error communicating with your Plex Server.' + msg_settings;
+
+    var server_status;
+    server_status = setInterval(function() {
+        $.getJSON('server_status', function (data) {
+            if (data.connected === true) {
+                clearInterval(server_status);
+                $('#currentActivity').html('<div id="dashboard-checking-activity" class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Checking for activity...</div>');
+                $('#recentlyAdded').html('<div id="dashboard-checking-recently-added" class="text-muted"><i class="fa fa-refresh fa-spin"></i>&nbsp; Looking for new items...</div>');
+                activityConnected();
+                recentlyAddedConnected();
+            } else if (data.connected === false) {
+                clearInterval(server_status);
+                $('#currentActivity').html('<div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">' + error_msg + '</div>');
+                $('#recentlyAdded').html('<div id="dashboard-no-recently-added" class="text-muted">' + error_msg + '</div>');
+            }
+        });
+    }, 1000);
 </script>
-% if 'current_activity' in config['home_sections'] and PLEX_SERVER_UP:
+% if 'current_activity' in config['home_sections']:
 <script>
     var defaultHandler = {
         get: function(target, name) {
@@ -271,7 +286,7 @@
     var create_instances = [];
     var activity_ready = true;
 
-     $('#currentActivityHeader-bandwidth-tooltip').tooltip({ container: 'body', placement: 'right', delay: 50 });
+    $('#currentActivityHeader-bandwidth-tooltip').tooltip({ container: 'body', placement: 'right', delay: 50 });
 
     function getCurrentActivity() {
         activity_ready = false;
@@ -297,13 +312,8 @@
                 }
 
                 if (!(current_activity)) {
-                    % if _session['user_group'] == 'admin':
-                    var msg_settings = ' Check the <a href="logs">logs</a> and verify your server connection in the <a href="settings#tab_tabs-plex_media_server">settings</a>.';
-                    % else:
-                    var msg_settings = '';
-                    % endif
                     $('#currentActivityHeader').hide();
-                    $('#currentActivity').html('<div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">There was an error communicating with your Plex Server.' + msg_settings + '</div>');
+                    $('#currentActivity').html('<div id="dashboard-no-activity" class="text-muted">' + error_msg + '</div>');
                     return
                 }
 
@@ -625,34 +635,36 @@
         });
     }
 
-    getCurrentActivity();
-    setInterval(function () {
-        if (!(create_instances.length) && activity_ready) {
-            getCurrentActivity();
-        }
-    }, ${config['home_refresh_interval'] * 1000});
+    function activityConnected() {
+        getCurrentActivity();
+        setInterval(function () {
+            if (!(create_instances.length) && activity_ready) {
+                getCurrentActivity();
+            }
+        }, ${config['home_refresh_interval'] * 1000});
 
-    setInterval(function(){
-        $('.progress_time_offset').each(function () {
-            if ($(this).data('state') === 'playing' && $(this).data('view_offset') >= 0) {
-                var view_offset = parseInt($(this).data('view_offset'));
-                var stream_duration = parseInt($(this).data('stream_duration'));
-                var timestamp = millisecondsToMinutes(Math.min(view_offset, stream_duration), false);
-                $(this).html(timestamp).data('view_offset', Math.min(view_offset + 1000, stream_duration))
-            }
-        });
-        $('.progress-bar').each(function () {
-            if ($(this).data('state') === 'playing' && $(this).data('view_offset') >= 0) {
-                var view_offset = parseInt($(this).data('view_offset'));
-                var stream_duration = parseInt($(this).data('stream_duration'));
-                var progress_percent = Math.floor(view_offset / stream_duration * 100);
-                progress_percent = (progress_percent >= 0) ? Math.min(progress_percent, 100) : 100;
-                $(this).css({width: progress_percent - 3 + '%'}).html(progress_percent + '%')
-                    .attr('data-original-title', 'Stream Progress ' + progress_percent + '%')
-                    .data('view_offset', Math.min(view_offset + 1000, stream_duration));
-            }
-        });
-    }, 1000);
+        setInterval(function(){
+            $('.progress_time_offset').each(function () {
+                if ($(this).data('state') === 'playing' && $(this).data('view_offset') >= 0) {
+                    var view_offset = parseInt($(this).data('view_offset'));
+                    var stream_duration = parseInt($(this).data('stream_duration'));
+                    var timestamp = millisecondsToMinutes(Math.min(view_offset, stream_duration), false);
+                    $(this).html(timestamp).data('view_offset', Math.min(view_offset + 1000, stream_duration))
+                }
+            });
+            $('.progress-bar').each(function () {
+                if ($(this).data('state') === 'playing' && $(this).data('view_offset') >= 0) {
+                    var view_offset = parseInt($(this).data('view_offset'));
+                    var stream_duration = parseInt($(this).data('stream_duration'));
+                    var progress_percent = Math.floor(view_offset / stream_duration * 100);
+                    progress_percent = (progress_percent >= 0) ? Math.min(progress_percent, 100) : 100;
+                    $(this).css({width: progress_percent - 3 + '%'}).html(progress_percent + '%')
+                        .attr('data-original-title', 'Stream Progress ' + progress_percent + '%')
+                        .data('view_offset', Math.min(view_offset + 1000, stream_duration));
+                }
+            });
+        }, 1000);
+    }
 
     $('#currentActivity').on('click', '.external_ip-modal', function () {
         $.get('get_ip_address_details', {
@@ -876,7 +888,7 @@
     getLibraryStats();
 </script>
 % endif
-% if 'recently_added' in config['home_sections'] and PLEX_SERVER_UP:
+% if 'recently_added' in config['home_sections']:
 <script>
     function recentlyAdded(recently_added_count, recently_added_type) {
         showMsg("Loading recently added items...", true, false, 0);
@@ -904,7 +916,9 @@
     $('#recently-added-toggle-' + recently_added_type).closest('label').addClass('active');
     $('#recently-added-count').val(recently_added_count);
 
-    recentlyAdded(recently_added_count, recently_added_type);
+    function recentlyAddedConnected() {
+        recentlyAdded(recently_added_count, recently_added_type);
+    }
 
     function highlightAddedScrollerButton() {
         var scroller = $("#recently-added-row-scroller");
diff --git a/plexpy/__init__.py b/plexpy/__init__.py
index 339a27a2..a191ffc3 100644
--- a/plexpy/__init__.py
+++ b/plexpy/__init__.py
@@ -334,18 +334,6 @@ def initialize(config_file):
             logger.error("Unable to write current release to file '%s': %s" %
                          (release_file, e))
 
-        # Get the real PMS urls for SSL and remote access
-        if CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.PMS_IP and CONFIG.PMS_PORT:
-            plextv.get_server_resources()
-
-        # Refresh the users list on startup
-        if CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.REFRESH_USERS_ON_STARTUP:
-            users.refresh_users()
-
-        # Refresh the libraries list on startup
-        if CONFIG.PMS_IP and CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.REFRESH_LIBRARIES_ON_STARTUP:
-            libraries.refresh_libraries()
-
         # Store the original umask
         UMASK = os.umask(0)
         os.umask(UMASK)
@@ -523,6 +511,9 @@ def start():
     global _STARTED
 
     if _INITIALIZED:
+        # Start refreshes on a separate thread
+        threading.Thread(target=startup_refresh).start()
+
         global SCHED
         SCHED = BackgroundScheduler(timezone=pytz.UTC)
         activity_handler.ACTIVITY_SCHED = BackgroundScheduler(timezone=pytz.UTC)
@@ -535,12 +526,13 @@ def start():
         notification_handler.start_threads(num_threads=CONFIG.NOTIFICATION_THREADS)
         notifiers.check_browser_enabled()
 
+        # Schedule newsletters
+        newsletter_handler.NEWSLETTER_SCHED.start()
+        newsletter_handler.schedule_newsletters()
+
         # Cancel processing exports
         exporter.cancel_exports()
 
-        if CONFIG.FIRST_RUN_COMPLETE:
-            activity_pinger.connect_server(log=True, startup=True)
-
         if CONFIG.SYSTEM_ANALYTICS:
             global TRACKER
             TRACKER = initialize_tracker()
@@ -554,13 +546,27 @@ def start():
 
             analytics_event(category='system', action='start')
 
-        # Schedule newsletters
-        newsletter_handler.NEWSLETTER_SCHED.start()
-        newsletter_handler.schedule_newsletters()
-
         _STARTED = True
 
 
+def startup_refresh():
+    # Get the real PMS urls for SSL and remote access
+    if CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.PMS_IP and CONFIG.PMS_PORT:
+        plextv.get_server_resources()
+
+    # Connect server after server resource is refreshed
+    if CONFIG.FIRST_RUN_COMPLETE:
+        activity_pinger.connect_server(log=True, startup=True)
+
+    # Refresh the users list on startup
+    if CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.REFRESH_USERS_ON_STARTUP:
+        users.refresh_users()
+
+    # Refresh the libraries list on startup
+    if CONFIG.PMS_IP and CONFIG.PMS_TOKEN and CONFIG.REFRESH_LIBRARIES_ON_STARTUP:
+        libraries.refresh_libraries()
+
+
 def sig_handler(signum=None, frame=None):
     if signum is not None:
         logger.info("Signal %i caught, saving and exiting...", signum)
diff --git a/plexpy/libraries.py b/plexpy/libraries.py
index 9422673c..71930144 100644
--- a/plexpy/libraries.py
+++ b/plexpy/libraries.py
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ def add_live_tv_library(refresh=False):
     if result and not refresh or not result and refresh:
         return
 
-    logger.info("Tautulli Libraries :: Adding Live TV library to the database.")
+    if not refresh:
+        logger.info("Tautulli Libraries :: Adding Live TV library to the database.")
 
     section_keys = {'server_id': plexpy.CONFIG.PMS_IDENTIFIER,
                     'section_id': common.LIVE_TV_SECTION_ID}
diff --git a/plexpy/webserve.py b/plexpy/webserve.py
index d1b6a194..2aa00b0b 100644
--- a/plexpy/webserve.py
+++ b/plexpy/webserve.py
@@ -6545,6 +6545,31 @@ class WebInterface(object):
 
         return status
 
+    @cherrypy.expose
+    @cherrypy.tools.json_out()
+    @addtoapi()
+    def server_status(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """ Get the current status of Tautulli's connection to the Plex server.
+
+            ```
+            Required parameters:
+                None
+
+            Optional parameters:
+                None
+
+            Returns:
+                json:
+                    {"result": "success",
+                     "connected": true,
+                     }
+            ```
+        """
+        cherrypy.response.headers['Cache-Control'] = "max-age=0,no-cache,no-store"
+        status = {'result': 'success', 'connected': plexpy.PLEX_SERVER_UP}
+
+        return status
+
     @cherrypy.expose
     @cherrypy.tools.json_out()
     @requireAuth(member_of("admin"))