diff --git a/proxy/indexer/airdropper.py b/proxy/indexer/airdropper.py
index 310f6fbdd..7f53f4a5b 100644
--- a/proxy/indexer/airdropper.py
+++ b/proxy/indexer/airdropper.py
@@ -110,7 +110,9 @@ def __init__(self,
         self._constants = SQLDict(tablename="constants")
         if start_slot == 'CONTINUE':
             self.info('Trying to use latest processed slot from previous run')
-            start_slot = self._constants.get('latest_processed_slot', 0)
+            start_slot = self._constants.get('latest_processed_slot', None)
+            if start_slot is None:
+                raise Exception('START_SLOT set to CONINUE but recent slot number not found in DB')
         elif start_slot == 'LATEST':
             self.info('Airdropper will start at latest blockchain slot')
             client = SolanaClient(solana_url)
@@ -118,10 +120,9 @@ def __init__(self,
         else:
             try:
                 start_slot = int(start_slot)
-            except Exception as err:
-                self.warning(f'''Unsupported value for start_slot: {start_slot}.
-                Must be either integer value or one of [CONTINUE,LATEST]''')
-                raise
+            except:
+                raise Exception(f'Failed to parse start_slot value: {start_slot}')
+
         self.info(f'Start slot is {start_slot}')
 
         IndexerBase.__init__(self, solana_url, evm_loader_id, start_slot)
@@ -362,13 +363,16 @@ def run_airdropper(solana_url,
         Price provider solana: {pp_solana_url},
         Max confidence interval: {max_conf}""")
 
-    airdropper = Airdropper(solana_url,
-                            evm_loader_id,
-                            pyth_mapping_account,
-                            faucet_url,
-                            wrapper_whitelist,
-                            neon_decimals,
-                            start_slot,
-                            pp_solana_url,
-                            max_conf)
-    airdropper.run()
+    try:
+        airdropper = Airdropper(solana_url,
+                                evm_loader_id,
+                                pyth_mapping_account,
+                                faucet_url,
+                                wrapper_whitelist,
+                                neon_decimals,
+                                start_slot,
+                                pp_solana_url,
+                                max_conf)
+        airdropper.run()
+    except Exception as err:
+        logger.error(f'Failed to start Airdropper: {err}')
diff --git a/proxy/testing/test_airdropper.py b/proxy/testing/test_airdropper.py
index b0bd9cef0..999c6b31d 100644
--- a/proxy/testing/test_airdropper.py
+++ b/proxy/testing/test_airdropper.py
@@ -264,6 +264,24 @@ def test_init_airdropper_slot_continue(self, mock_get_slot, mock_dict_get):
         mock_dict_get.assert_called_once_with('latest_processed_slot', ANY)
         mock_get_slot.assert_not_called()
 
+    @patch.object(SQLDict, 'get')
+    @patch.object(SolanaClient, 'get_slot')
+    def test_init_airdropper_slot_continue_recent_slot_not_found(self, mock_get_slot, mock_dict_get):
+        mock_dict_get.side_effect = [None]
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            self.create_airdropper('CONTINUE')
+        mock_dict_get.assert_called_once_with('latest_processed_slot', ANY)
+        mock_get_slot.assert_not_called()
+
+    
+    @patch.object(SQLDict, 'get')
+    @patch.object(SolanaClient, 'get_slot')
+    def test_init_airdropper_start_slot_parse_error(self, mock_get_slot, mock_dict_get):
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            self.create_airdropper('Wrong value')
+        mock_dict_get.assert_not_called()
+        mock_get_slot.assert_not_called()
+
 
     @patch.object(SQLDict, 'get')
     @patch.object(SolanaClient, 'get_slot')