diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 63c21e0..d64ed4f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Load it in your `config.ru` file with an instance of `ElasticSearch::Client`
 
     map '/elasticboard' do
       run ElasticBoard::Application.new(
-        :connection => ElasticSearch.new("localhost:9200")
+        :connection => (ElasticSearch.new("localhost:9200") rescue nil)
       )
     end
     
@@ -32,12 +32,14 @@ If you use something like Escargot and ActiveRecord in your application, you can
 
     map '/elasticboard' do
       run ElasticBoard::Application.new(
-        :connection => Escargot.connection
+        :connection => (Escargot.connection rescue nil)
       )
     end
     
 From there, just go to `/elasticboard` and check it out.
 
+Note: `rescue nil` is a nice safety in the event that your app is unable to connect to ElasticSearch, it will still boot.  If you don't leave ES running on your development machine, this will let your app continue to boot regardless of whether or not ES is running.  ElasticBoard will handle a nil connection gracefully.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 1. Fork it
diff --git a/config.ru b/config.ru
index 5491a8a..a5432be 100644
--- a/config.ru
+++ b/config.ru
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ require "rubberband"
 require "elastic_board"
 
 map '/elasticboard' do
-  run ElasticBoard::Application.new(:connection => ElasticSearch.new("localhost:9200"))
+  run ElasticBoard::Application.new(:connection => (ElasticSearch.new("localhost:9200") rescue nil))
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/elastic_board.rb b/lib/elastic_board.rb
index 99128c2..1487ee7 100644
--- a/lib/elastic_board.rb
+++ b/lib/elastic_board.rb
@@ -57,9 +57,12 @@ def header_badge(summary)
     # ==================
     
     get '/' do
-      @summary = ElasticBoard::Summary.new(self.connection)
-      
-      erb :index
+      if self.connection
+        @summary = ElasticBoard::Summary.new(self.connection)
+        erb :index
+      else
+        erb :down
+      end
     end
     
   end
diff --git a/lib/elastic_board/summary.rb b/lib/elastic_board/summary.rb
index 58c4261..ab5078f 100644
--- a/lib/elastic_board/summary.rb
+++ b/lib/elastic_board/summary.rb
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ def unassigned_shards
       cluster_health['unassigned_shards']
     end
     
+    def cluster_health_notice
+      if unassigned_shards.to_i > 0
+        "Unassigned Shards Greater than Zero"
+      else
+        return nil
+      end
+    end
+    
     private
     
     def extract_ip_from_address(address)
diff --git a/lib/elastic_board/views/down.erb b/lib/elastic_board/views/down.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d676b72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/elastic_board/views/down.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+<div class="navbar navbar-inverse navbar-fixed-top">
+  <div class="navbar-inner">
+    <div class="container">
+      <a class="brand" href="#">ElasticBoard</a>
+      <span class="badge badge-important" style="margin-top:11px;">Unable to Connect to ElasticSearch</span>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="container">
+
+  <!-- Example row of columns -->
+  <div class="row">
+    <div class="span6">
+      <h2>Cluster Health <span class="badge badge-important">Down</span></h2>
+      <div class="well well-top">
+        <table class="summary_table">
+          <tr><td style="font-weight: bold">Number of Nodes</td><td>0</td></tr>
+          <tr><td style="font-weight: bold">Active Shards</td><td>0</td></tr>
+          <tr><td style="font-weight: bold">Active Primary Shards</td><td>0</td></tr>
+          <tr><td style="font-weight: bold">Unassigned Shards</td><td>0</td></tr>
+        </table>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="span6">
+      <h2>Nodes in Cluster</h2>
+      <div class="well well-top">
+        <table class="summary_table">
+        </table>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <!-- Main hero unit for a primary marketing message or call to action -->
+  <div class="container">
+    <h2>Indexes</h2>
+    <div class="well">
+      <h2>Unable to connect to ElasticSearch</h2>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <hr>
+
+  <footer>
+    <p>&copy; ElasticBoard 2013</p>
+  </footer>
+
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/elastic_board/views/index.erb b/lib/elastic_board/views/index.erb
index b656cb3..52dfeeb 100644
--- a/lib/elastic_board/views/index.erb
+++ b/lib/elastic_board/views/index.erb
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
   <!-- Example row of columns -->
   <div class="row">
     <div class="span6">
-      <h2>Cluster Health <span class="badge badge-<%= @summary.nodes_info['ok'] ? 'success' : 'important' %>"><%= @summary.nodes_info['ok'] ? 'Healthy' : 'Problem' %></span></h2>
+      <h2>Cluster Health <span class="badge badge-<%= @summary.cluster_health_notice.nil? ? 'success' : 'warning' %>"><%= @summary.cluster_health_notice.nil? ? 'Healthy' : @summary.cluster_health_notice %></span></h2>
       <div class="well well-top">
         <table class="summary_table">
           <tr><td style="font-weight: bold">Number of Nodes</td><td><%= @summary.number_of_nodes %></td></tr>
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       </div>
     </div>
     <div class="span6">
-      <h2>Nodes in Cluster</h2>
+      <h2>Nodes in Cluster <span class="badge badge-<%= @summary.nodes_info['ok'] ? 'success' : 'important' %>"><%= @summary.nodes_info['ok'] ? 'Healthy' : 'Problem' %></span></h2>
       <div class="well well-top">
         <table class="summary_table">
           <% @summary.nodes.each do |node| %>