diff --git a/client/src/args.rs b/client/src/args.rs
index 6fe7573..d7b020b 100644
--- a/client/src/args.rs
+++ b/client/src/args.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ use structopt::StructOpt;
 
 #[derive(StructOpt)]
 pub enum Opts {
-    Chat,
+    Chat(ChatOpts),
 }
 
-impl Opts {
-    pub fn get() -> Self {
-        Self::from_args()
-    }
+#[derive(StructOpt)]
+pub struct ChatOpts {
+    /// whether or not to give up on connecting to the daemon after 10 ms
+    #[structopt(long)]
+    pub no_timeout: bool,
 }
diff --git a/client/src/fifo.rs b/client/src/fifo.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39eb88f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/fifo.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+use crate::{args::ChatOpts, State};
+use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
+use common::client_daemon::{ClientToDaemonMsg, DaemonToClientMsg};
+use std::{fs::File, io::Read, panic, thread, time::Duration};
+
+impl<'a> State<'a> {
+    /// try to open the two fifo files in their respective modes. timeout after 10 ms, unless the
+    /// `--no-timeout` option was provided.
+    pub(crate) fn try_get_fifos(opts: &ChatOpts) -> Result<(File, File)> {
+        let thread = thread::spawn(|| {
+            let home_dir = dirs::home_dir().context("couldn't get home directory")?;
+
+            let ctodbuf = File::options()
+                .write(true)
+                .open(home_dir.join(".rclc/ctodbuf"))
+                .context("couldn't open client->daemon fifo")?;
+
+            let dtocbuf = File::open(home_dir.join(".rclc/dtocbuf"))
+                .context("couldn't open daemon->client fifo")?;
+
+            Ok((ctodbuf, dtocbuf))
+        });
+
+        if !opts.no_timeout {
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
+        }
+
+        if opts.no_timeout || thread.is_finished() {
+            match thread.join() {
+                Ok(o) => o,
+                Err(e) => panic::resume_unwind(e),
+            }
+        } else {
+            bail!("daemon is not running (10 ms timeout reached)");
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn send_fifo_msg(&mut self, msg: &ClientToDaemonMsg) -> Result<()> {
+        rmp_serde::encode::write(&mut self.ctodbuf, &msg)
+            .with_context(|| format!("couldn't write message {msg:?} to fifo"))
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn handle_fifo_msg(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut data = Vec::new();
+        self.dtocbuf
+            .read_to_end(&mut data)
+            .context("couldn't read from fifo")?;
+        match rmp_serde::from_slice::<DaemonToClientMsg>(&data) {
+            Ok(msg) => print!("got fifo msg: {msg:?}\n\r"),
+            Err(e) => self.print_upwards(|| {
+                bunt::print!("{$red}invalid message from daemon: {}{/$}\n\r", e);
+                Ok(())
+            })?,
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/client/src/main.rs b/client/src/main.rs
index ca23c30..2648d3d 100644
--- a/client/src/main.rs
+++ b/client/src/main.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,19 @@
 use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
-use args::Opts;
-use common::client_daemon::{ClientToDaemonMsg, DaemonToClientMsg};
-use crossterm::{
-    cursor,
-    event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers},
-    terminal::{self, ClearType},
-    tty::IsTty,
-    ExecutableCommand, QueueableCommand,
-};
+use args::{ChatOpts, Opts};
+use crossterm::{event, terminal, tty::IsTty};
 use mio::{unix::SourceFd, Events, Interest, Poll, Token};
 use std::{
     fs::File,
-    io::{self, Read, StdoutLock, Write},
+    io::{self, StdoutLock, Write},
     ops::ControlFlow,
     os::unix::prelude::AsRawFd,
     time::Duration,
 };
+use structopt::StructOpt;
 
 mod args;
+mod fifo;
+mod tui;
 
 const PROMPT: &str = "> ";
 
@@ -35,41 +31,15 @@ struct State<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a> State<'a> {
-    fn new() -> Result<Self> {
-        let mut stdout = io::stdout().lock();
+    fn new(opts: ChatOpts) -> Result<Self> {
+        let stdout = io::stdout().lock();
         if !stdout.is_tty() {
             bail!("stdout is not a tty");
         }
 
         terminal::enable_raw_mode().context("couldn't enable raw mode")?;
 
-        let home_dir = dirs::home_dir().context("couldn't get home directory")?;
-
-        print!("waiting for daemon connection...");
-        stdout.flush()?;
-        // aquire a write handle on the ctod fifo
-        // this blocks the client until the daemon opens the file to read
-        let ctodbuf = File::options()
-            .write(true)
-            .open(home_dir.join(".rclc/ctodbuf"))
-            .context("couldn't open client->daemon fifo")?;
-
-        // clear waiting message
-        stdout
-            .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
-            .execute(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
-
-        print!("waiting for daemon response...");
-        stdout.flush()?;
-        // aquire a read handle on the dtoc file
-        // this blocks until the daemon opens the file to write
-        let dtocbuf = File::open(home_dir.join(".rclc/dtocbuf"))
-            .context("couldn't open daemon->client fifo")?;
-
-        // clear waiting message
-        stdout
-            .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
-            .execute(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
+        let (ctodbuf, dtocbuf) = Self::try_get_fifos(&opts)?;
 
         Ok(Self {
             stdout,
@@ -134,116 +104,24 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
 
         Ok(())
     }
-
-    /// clear the prompt line, perform a function (function is assumed to print something
-    /// followed by `"\n\r"`), then restore the prompt line. stdout is not flushed.
-    fn print_upwards<F>(&mut self, f: F) -> Result<()>
-    where
-        F: Fn() -> Result<()>,
-    {
-        self.stdout
-            .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
-            .queue(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
-        f()?;
-        print!("{}{}", PROMPT, self.input);
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn send_fifo_msg(&mut self, msg: &ClientToDaemonMsg) -> Result<()> {
-        rmp_serde::encode::write(&mut self.ctodbuf, &msg)
-            .with_context(|| format!("couldn't write message {msg:?} to fifo"))
-    }
-
-    fn handle_fifo_msg(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
-        let mut data = Vec::new();
-        self.dtocbuf
-            .read_to_end(&mut data)
-            .context("couldn't read from fifo")?;
-        match rmp_serde::from_slice::<DaemonToClientMsg>(&data) {
-            Ok(msg) => print!("got fifo msg: {msg:?}\n\r"),
-            Err(e) => self.print_upwards(|| {
-                bunt::print!("{$red}invalid message from daemon: {}{/$}\n\r", e);
-                Ok(())
-            })?,
-        }
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn handle_term_evt(&mut self) -> Result<ControlFlow<()>> {
-        let event = event::read().context("couldn't read next terminal event")?;
-        match event {
-            Event::Key(kev) => self.handle_kev(kev),
-            _ => Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(())),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn handle_kev(&mut self, kev: KeyEvent) -> Result<ControlFlow<()>> {
-        match kev.code {
-            KeyCode::Char('c') if kev.modifiers == KeyModifiers::CONTROL => {
-                // notify the event loop to break
-                return Ok(ControlFlow::Break(()));
-            }
-            KeyCode::Backspace => {
-                if !self.input.is_empty() {
-                    self.input.pop();
-                    print!("\x08 \x08");
-                }
-            }
-            KeyCode::Enter => {
-                if self.input.is_empty() {
-                    return Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(()));
-                }
-
-                self.send_fifo_msg(&ClientToDaemonMsg::Send(self.input.clone()))?;
-                self.input.clear();
-                self.stdout
-                    .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
-                    .queue(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
-                print!("{}", PROMPT);
-            }
-            KeyCode::Char(c) => {
-                self.input.push(c);
-                print!("{c}");
-            }
-            _ => (),
-        }
-
-        Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(()))
-    }
 }
 
-fn chat() -> Result<()> {
-    let mut state = State::new()?;
+fn chat(opts: ChatOpts) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut state = State::new(opts)?;
     state.start()?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
-#[allow(unused_must_use)]
-/// Try our best to clean up the terminal state; if too many errors happen, just print some newlines and call it good.
-fn cleanup() {
-    let mut stdout = io::stdout().lock();
-    if stdout.is_tty() {
-        stdout.execute(cursor::Show);
-        if terminal::disable_raw_mode().is_ok() {
-            print!("\n\n");
-        } else {
-            print!("\n\r\n\r");
-        }
-        stdout.execute(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine));
-    }
-}
-
 fn go() -> Result<()> {
-    match Opts::get() {
-        Opts::Chat => chat(),
+    match Opts::from_args() {
+        Opts::Chat(chatopts) => chat(chatopts),
     }
 }
 
 fn main() {
     if let Err(e) = go() {
-        cleanup();
+        tui::cleanup();
         println!("rclc client error: {e:?}");
     }
 }
diff --git a/client/src/tui.rs b/client/src/tui.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a42cffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/tui.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+use std::{io, ops::ControlFlow};
+
+use crate::{State, PROMPT};
+use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+use common::client_daemon::ClientToDaemonMsg;
+use crossterm::{
+    cursor,
+    event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers},
+    terminal::{self, ClearType},
+    tty::IsTty,
+    ExecutableCommand, QueueableCommand,
+};
+
+impl<'a> State<'a> {
+    /// clear the prompt line, perform a function (function is assumed to print something
+    /// followed by `"\n\r"`), then restore the prompt line. stdout is not flushed.
+    pub(crate) fn print_upwards<F>(&mut self, f: F) -> Result<()>
+    where
+        F: Fn() -> Result<()>,
+    {
+        self.stdout
+            .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
+            .queue(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
+        f()?;
+        print!("{}{}", PROMPT, self.input);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn handle_term_evt(&mut self) -> Result<ControlFlow<()>> {
+        let event = event::read().context("couldn't read next terminal event")?;
+        match event {
+            Event::Key(kev) => self.handle_kev(kev),
+            _ => Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(())),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn handle_kev(&mut self, kev: KeyEvent) -> Result<ControlFlow<()>> {
+        match kev.code {
+            KeyCode::Char('c') if kev.modifiers == KeyModifiers::CONTROL => {
+                // notify the event loop to break
+                return Ok(ControlFlow::Break(()));
+            }
+            KeyCode::Backspace => {
+                if !self.input.is_empty() {
+                    self.input.pop();
+                    print!("\x08 \x08");
+                }
+            }
+            KeyCode::Enter => {
+                if self.input.is_empty() {
+                    return Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(()));
+                }
+
+                self.send_fifo_msg(&ClientToDaemonMsg::Send(self.input.clone()))?;
+                self.input.clear();
+                self.stdout
+                    .queue(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine))?
+                    .queue(cursor::MoveToColumn(0))?;
+                print!("{}", PROMPT);
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char(c) => {
+                self.input.push(c);
+                print!("{c}");
+            }
+            _ => (),
+        }
+
+        Ok(ControlFlow::Continue(()))
+    }
+}
+
+#[allow(unused_must_use)]
+/// Try our best to clean up the terminal state; if too many errors happen, just print some newlines and call it good.
+pub fn cleanup() {
+    let mut stdout = io::stdout().lock();
+    if stdout.is_tty() {
+        stdout.execute(cursor::Show);
+        if terminal::disable_raw_mode().is_ok() {
+            print!("\n\n");
+        } else {
+            print!("\n\r\n\r");
+        }
+        stdout.execute(terminal::Clear(ClearType::CurrentLine));
+    }
+}