diff --git a/netclient/command/commands.go b/netclient/command/commands.go
index 4b07c26f..6128b257 100644
--- a/netclient/command/commands.go
+++ b/netclient/command/commands.go
@@ -7,16 +7,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/daemon"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/functions"
 	"github.com/gravitl/netmaker/netclient/ncutils"
-	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
 )
 
 // JoinCommsNetwork -- Join the message queue comms network
 func JoinCommsNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig) error {
-	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if err := functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, key.PublicKey().String()); err != nil {
+	if err := functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, "", true); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -28,26 +23,32 @@ func Join(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 	//check if comms network exists
 	var commsCfg config.ClientConfig
 	commsCfg.Network = cfg.Server.CommsNetwork
+	commsCfg.Node.Network = cfg.Server.CommsNetwork
+	commsCfg.Server.AccessKey = cfg.Server.AccessKey
+	commsCfg.Server.GRPCAddress = cfg.Server.GRPCAddress
+	commsCfg.Server.GRPCSSL = cfg.Server.GRPCSSL
+	commsCfg.Server.CoreDNSAddr = cfg.Server.CoreDNSAddr
 	commsCfg.ReadConfig()
 	if commsCfg.Node.Name == "" {
 		if err := JoinCommsNetwork(commsCfg); err != nil {
 			ncutils.Log("could not join comms network " + err.Error())
 			return err
 		}
-	}
-	//ensure comms network is reachable
-	if err := functions.PingServer(&commsCfg); err != nil {
-		if err := functions.LeaveNetwork(commsCfg.Network); err != nil {
-			ncutils.Log("could not leave comms network " + err.Error())
-			return err
-		}
-		if err := JoinCommsNetwork(commsCfg); err != nil {
-			ncutils.Log("could not join comms network " + err.Error())
-			return err
+	} else { // check if comms is currently reachable
+		if err := functions.PingServer(&commsCfg); err != nil {
+			if err := functions.LeaveNetwork(commsCfg.Network); err != nil {
+				ncutils.Log("could not leave comms network " + err.Error())
+				return err
+			}
+			if err := JoinCommsNetwork(commsCfg); err != nil {
+				ncutils.Log("could not join comms network " + err.Error())
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	//join network
-	err = functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, privateKey)
+	err = functions.JoinNetwork(cfg, privateKey, false)
 	if err != nil && !cfg.DebugOn {
 		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "ALREADY_INSTALLED") {
 			ncutils.PrintLog("error installing: "+err.Error(), 1)
diff --git a/netclient/functions/daemon.go b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
index 3857cff8..ca9303ca 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/daemon.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/daemon.go
@@ -126,7 +126,16 @@ func setupMQTT(publish bool, networkName string) mqtt.Client {
 	opts.SetWriteTimeout(time.Minute)
 	opts.SetOnConnectHandler(func(client mqtt.Client) {
 		if !publish {
-			SetSubscriptions(client, cfg)
+			networks, err := ncutils.GetSystemNetworks()
+			if err != nil {
+				ncutils.Log("error retriving networks " + err.Error())
+			}
+			for _, network := range networks {
+				var currConf config.ClientConfig
+				currConf.Network = network
+				currConf.ReadConfig()
+				SetSubscriptions(client, &currConf)
+			}
 		}
 	})
 	opts.SetOrderMatters(true)
@@ -182,29 +191,20 @@ func SetSubscriptions(client mqtt.Client, cfg *config.ClientConfig) {
 		}
 		ncutils.Log("subscribed to all topics for debugging purposes")
 	}
-	networks, err := ncutils.GetSystemNetworks()
-	if err != nil {
-		ncutils.Log("error retriving networks " + err.Error())
-	}
-	for _, network := range networks {
-		var cfg config.ClientConfig
-		cfg.Network = network
-		cfg.ReadConfig()
 
-		if token := client.Subscribe(fmt.Sprintf("update/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID), 0, mqtt.MessageHandler(NodeUpdate)); token.Wait() && token.Error() != nil {
-			ncutils.Log(token.Error().Error())
-			return
-		}
-		if cfg.DebugOn {
-			ncutils.Log(fmt.Sprintf("subscribed to node updates for node %s update/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Name, cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID))
-		}
-		if token := client.Subscribe(fmt.Sprintf("peers/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID), 0, mqtt.MessageHandler(UpdatePeers)); token.Wait() && token.Error() != nil {
-			ncutils.Log(token.Error().Error())
-			return
-		}
-		if cfg.DebugOn {
-			ncutils.Log(fmt.Sprintf("subscribed to peer updates for node %s peers/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Name, cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID))
-		}
+	if token := client.Subscribe(fmt.Sprintf("update/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID), 0, mqtt.MessageHandler(NodeUpdate)); token.Wait() && token.Error() != nil {
+		ncutils.Log(token.Error().Error())
+		return
+	}
+	if cfg.DebugOn {
+		ncutils.Log(fmt.Sprintf("subscribed to node updates for node %s update/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Name, cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID))
+	}
+	if token := client.Subscribe(fmt.Sprintf("peers/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID), 0, mqtt.MessageHandler(UpdatePeers)); token.Wait() && token.Error() != nil {
+		ncutils.Log(token.Error().Error())
+		return
+	}
+	if cfg.DebugOn {
+		ncutils.Log(fmt.Sprintf("subscribed to peer updates for node %s peers/%s/%s", cfg.Node.Name, cfg.Node.Network, cfg.Node.ID))
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/netclient/functions/join.go b/netclient/functions/join.go
index e5226811..5274d682 100644
--- a/netclient/functions/join.go
+++ b/netclient/functions/join.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // JoinNetwork - helps a client join a network
-func JoinNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
+func JoinNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string, iscomms bool) error {
 	if cfg.Node.Network == "" {
 		return errors.New("no network provided")
 	}
@@ -250,16 +250,18 @@ func JoinNetwork(cfg config.ClientConfig, privateKey string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if cfg.Daemon != "off" {
-		err = daemon.InstallDaemon(cfg)
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	} else {
-		daemon.Restart()
+	if !iscomms {
+		if cfg.Daemon != "off" {
+			err = daemon.InstallDaemon(cfg)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		} else {
+			daemon.Restart()
+		}
 	}
 
-	return err
+	return nil
 }
 
 // format name appropriately. Set to blank on failure