diff --git a/howard.c b/howard.c
index c8bf230..396c10a 100644
--- a/howard.c
+++ b/howard.c
@@ -311,37 +311,44 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     char retbuf[BUFLEN];
     int res;
     int i;
-    enum mode_enum { M_PROBE, M_TEST } mode = M_PROBE;
+    enum mode_enum { M_PROBE, M_TEST, M_TESTDB } mode = M_PROBE;
     hid_device *dev = NULL;
 
     // handle args
     for (i=1; i<argc;i++) {
-        if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-t")) {
+        if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-T")) {
+            mode = M_TESTDB;
+        } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-t")) {
             mode = M_TEST;
         }
     }
     influx_init("gridbug.nethack.net", "haven", "", "");
 
-    if (mode == M_TEST) {
+    if (mode == M_TESTDB) {
         printf("running ping...\n");
         influx_ping(retbuf);
+	    exit(1);
     }
-    exit(1);
+
     if (hid_init()) {
+        perror("hid_init()");
         err("Failed to initialise hidapi.");
         exit(1);
     }
     dev = hid_open(MIC_VID, MIC_PID, NULL);
+
+    if (mode == M_TEST) {
+        if (dev) {
+            info("Found Benestar USB sound meter (vendor 0x%04hx, product 0x%04hx).", MIC_VID, MIC_PID);
+            exit(0);
+        }
+    }
+
     if (!dev) {
         err("Benestar USB sound meter not found (vendor 0x%04hx, product 0x%04hx).", MIC_VID, MIC_PID);
         exit(1);
     }
 
-    if (mode == M_TEST) {
-        info("Found Benestar USB sound meter (vendor 0x%04hx, product 0x%04hx).", MIC_VID, MIC_PID);
-        exit(0);
-    }
-
     // get current reading
     res = hid_write(dev, capture_cmd, 9);