diff --git a/src/client/libdistren.c b/src/client/libdistren.c
--- a/src/client/libdistren.c
+++ b/src/client/libdistren.c
@@ -45,6 +45,19 @@ int distren_init_mf(distren_t *handle, d
 
   (*handle)->malloc = mymalloc;
   (*handle)->free = myfree;
+
+  /* now the environment is ready for general use */
+  if(_distren_getoptions(*handle))
+    {
+      fprintf(stderr, "error getting configuration\n");
+      distren_free(*handle);
+      return 1;
+    }
+  
+  /**
+     @todo open a connection to the server now and return error if we can't
+     connect. 
+   */
   
   return 0;
 }