diff --git a/src/electionguard_gui/components/guardian_home_component.py b/src/electionguard_gui/components/guardian_home_component.py
index ab874687..23d8bd03 100644
--- a/src/electionguard_gui/components/guardian_home_component.py
+++ b/src/electionguard_gui/components/guardian_home_component.py
@@ -49,10 +49,18 @@ def get_key_ceremonies(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         return eel_success(js_key_ceremonies)
 
     def watch_db_collections(self) -> None:
-        self._log.debug("Watching database")
-        db = self._db_service.get_db()
-        self._db_watcher_service.watch_database(db, None, notify_ui_db_changed)
-        self._log.debug("exited watching database")
+        try:
+            self._log.debug("Watching database")
+            db = self._db_service.get_db()
+            self._db_watcher_service.watch_database(db, None, notify_ui_db_changed)
+            self._log.debug("exited watching database")
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            self._log.debug("Keyboard interrupt, exiting watch database")
+            self._db_watcher_service.stop_watching()
+        except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            self.handle_error(e)
+            self._db_watcher_service.stop_watching()
+            # no need to raise exception or return anything, we're in fire-and-forget mode here
 
     def stop_watching_db_collections(self) -> None:
         self._log.debug("Stopping watch database")
diff --git a/src/electionguard_gui/components/key_ceremony_details_component.py b/src/electionguard_gui/components/key_ceremony_details_component.py
index a9befd9f..59c27058 100644
--- a/src/electionguard_gui/components/key_ceremony_details_component.py
+++ b/src/electionguard_gui/components/key_ceremony_details_component.py
@@ -70,14 +70,22 @@ def expose(self) -> None:
         eel.expose(self.stop_watching_key_ceremony)
 
     def watch_key_ceremony(self, key_ceremony_id: str) -> None:
-        db = self._db_service.get_db()
-        # retrieve and send the key ceremony to the client
-        self.on_key_ceremony_changed("key_ceremonies", key_ceremony_id)
-        self._log.debug(f"watching key ceremony '{key_ceremony_id}'")
-        # start watching for key ceremony changes from guardians
-        self._db_watcher_service.watch_database(
-            db, key_ceremony_id, self.on_key_ceremony_changed
-        )
+        try:
+            db = self._db_service.get_db()
+            # retrieve and send the key ceremony to the client
+            self.on_key_ceremony_changed("key_ceremonies", key_ceremony_id)
+            self._log.debug(f"watching key ceremony '{key_ceremony_id}'")
+            # start watching for key ceremony changes from guardians
+            self._db_watcher_service.watch_database(
+                db, key_ceremony_id, self.on_key_ceremony_changed
+            )
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            self._log.debug("Keyboard interrupt, exiting watch database")
+            self._db_watcher_service.stop_watching()
+        except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            self.handle_error(e)
+            self._db_watcher_service.stop_watching()
+            # we're in a fire-and-forget scenario, so no need to raise an exception or return anything
 
     def stop_watching_key_ceremony(self) -> None:
         self._db_watcher_service.stop_watching()
diff --git a/src/electionguard_gui/main_app.py b/src/electionguard_gui/main_app.py
index 80bef36f..0482c75f 100644
--- a/src/electionguard_gui/main_app.py
+++ b/src/electionguard_gui/main_app.py
@@ -101,8 +101,21 @@ def start(self) -> None:
             port = self.config_service.get_port()
             host = self.config_service.get_host()
             self.log_service.debug(f"Starting eel port={port} mode={mode} host={host}")
-            eel.start("index.html", size=(1024, 768), port=port, mode=mode, host=host)
+            eel.start(
+                "index.html",
+                size=(1024, 768),
+                port=port,
+                mode=mode,
+                host=host,
+                close_callback=self.on_close,
+            )
+            self.log_service.info("Exiting main app normally")
         except Exception as e:
             self.log_service.error("error in main app start", e)
             traceback.print_exc()
             raise e
+
+    def on_close(self, _page: str, _open_sockets: list) -> None:
+        self.log_service.info(
+            "To close the egui app ensure the browser tab is closed and hit Ctrl+C"
+        )
diff --git a/src/electionguard_gui/web/components/guardian/guardian-home-component.js b/src/electionguard_gui/web/components/guardian/guardian-home-component.js
index 5b226d7a..54a5e457 100644
--- a/src/electionguard_gui/web/components/guardian/guardian-home-component.js
+++ b/src/electionguard_gui/web/components/guardian/guardian-home-component.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import KeyCeremonyList from "../shared/key-ceremony-list-component.js";
 import DecryptionList from "./decryption-list-component.js";
 import Spinner from "../shared/spinner-component.js";
 
+const sleepResumeInterval = 2000;
+
 export default {
   components: {
     KeyCeremonyList,
@@ -13,9 +15,21 @@ export default {
       loading: true,
       decryptions: [],
       keyCeremonies: [],
+      lastAwakeTime: new Date().getTime(),
     };
   },
   methods: {
+    refresh: async function () {
+      this.loading = true;
+      try {
+        this.decryptions = [];
+        this.keyCeremonies = [];
+        await this.refreshDecryptions();
+        await this.refreshKeyCeremonies();
+      } finally {
+        this.loading = false;
+      }
+    },
     keyCeremoniesChanged: async function () {
       await this.refreshKeyCeremonies();
     },
@@ -38,8 +52,17 @@ export default {
         console.error(result.error);
       }
     },
+    sleepResumeChecker: function () {
+      var currentTime = new Date().getTime();
+      if (currentTime > this.lastAwakeTime + sleepResumeInterval * 2) {
+        console.log("system appears to have returned from sleep, refreshing");
+        document.location.reload(true);
+      }
+      this.lastAwakeTime = currentTime;
+    },
   },
   async mounted() {
+    setInterval(this.sleepResumeChecker, sleepResumeInterval);
     eel.expose(this.keyCeremoniesChanged, "key_ceremonies_changed");
     eel.expose(this.decryptionsChanged, "decryptions_changed");
     console.log("begin watching for key ceremonies");
@@ -51,10 +74,18 @@ export default {
   unmounted() {
     console.log("stop watching key ceremonies");
     eel.stop_watching_db_collections();
+    clearInterval(this.sleepResumeChecker);
   },
   template: /*html*/ `
   <div class="container">
-    <h1>Guardian Home</h1>
+    <div class="row">
+      <div class="col-11">
+        <h1>Guardian Home</h1>
+      </div>
+      <div class="col-1 text-end">
+        <button class="btn btn-lg btn-light" @click="refresh"><i class="bi-arrow-clockwise"></i></button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
     <spinner :visible="loading"></spinner>
     <div v-if="!loading" class="row">
       <div class="col-12 col-lg-6">