diff --git a/cmd/testproxy/main.go b/cmd/testproxy/main.go
index 5c46d7b..4011eb8 100644
--- a/cmd/testproxy/main.go
+++ b/cmd/testproxy/main.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if err := db.Ping(ctx); err != nil {
-		logger.Fatal("failed to ping db", zap.Error(err))
+		logger.Fatal("failed to ping db", zap.Error(err), zap.String("url", os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL")))
 	}
 
 	connections := make(map[string]net.Conn)
diff --git a/features/support/steps/backend.ts b/features/support/steps/backend.ts
index 3d34b7d..d110c9c 100644
--- a/features/support/steps/backend.ts
+++ b/features/support/steps/backend.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { After, Given } from '@cucumber/cucumber'
 import { World } from '../world'
 
 Given('the {string} backend is running', async function (this: World, backend: string) {
-  return await new Promise(resolve => {
+  return await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const port = 10000 + Math.ceil(Math.random() * 1000)
     const env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = {
       ...process.env,
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Given('the {string} backend is running', async function (this: World, backend: s
       ENV: 'test'
     }
 
-    if (this.databaseURL === undefined) {
+    if (this.databaseURL !== undefined) {
       env.DATABASE_URL = this.databaseURL
     }
 
@@ -20,14 +20,21 @@ Given('the {string} backend is running', async function (this: World, backend: s
       env
     })
     prc.stderr.setEncoding('utf8')
+
+    let resolved = false
     prc.stderr.on('data', (data: string) => {
       const lines = data.split('\n')
       lines.forEach(line => {
         try {
           const entry = JSON.parse(line)
+          const severity = entry.severity.toLowerCase()
+          if (!resolved && (severity === 'error' || severity === 'emergency')) {
+            return reject(new Error('error before backend was started: ' + entry.message))
+          }
           if (entry.message === 'using database') {
             this.databaseURL = entry.url
           } else if (entry.message === 'listening') {
+            resolved = true
             resolve(undefined)
           }
         } catch (_) {
@@ -37,6 +44,10 @@ Given('the {string} backend is running', async function (this: World, backend: s
     })
     prc.addListener('exit', () => {
       this.print(`${backend} exited`)
+
+      if (!resolved) {
+        reject(new Error(`${backend} exited before it was ready`))
+      }
     })
 
     // Create a promise that resolves when the backend is closed so
diff --git a/features/support/steps/network.ts b/features/support/steps/network.ts
index 5222c0c..9cf62ee 100644
--- a/features/support/steps/network.ts
+++ b/features/support/steps/network.ts
@@ -90,8 +90,6 @@ Given('these lobbies exist:', async function (this: World, lobbies: DataTable) {
     values.push(`(${v.join(', ')})`)
   })
 
-  console.log('INSERT INTO lobbies (' + columns.join(', ') + ') VALUES ' + values.join(', '))
-
   await fetch(`${this.testproxyURL}/sql`, {
     method: 'POST',
     body: 'INSERT INTO lobbies (' + columns.join(', ') + ') VALUES ' + values.join(', ')