diff --git a/Core/Remote/piscal_launcher.sh b/Core/Remote/piscal_launcher.sh
index 807b1de..d47b517 100644
--- a/Core/Remote/piscal_launcher.sh
+++ b/Core/Remote/piscal_launcher.sh
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ popd >> /dev/null
 
 # copy output to storage
 if [ -z "$suppress_storage_copy" ]; then
-    cp "$output_directory_touser"/* "$storage_directory"/
-    cp "$output_directory_nottouser"/* "$storage_directory"/
-    cp "$cleaned_input_directory"/* "$storage_directory"/
+    cp "$output_directory_touser"/* "$storage_directory"/ 2>/dev/null
+    cp "$output_directory_nottouser"/* "$storage_directory"/ 2>/dev/null
+    cp "$cleaned_input_directory"/* "$storage_directory"/ 2>/dev/null
 fi
 
 # notify given url of completion
 if [ -n "$notify_url" ]; then
-    wget -qO- "$notify_url" # &> /dev/null 2>&1
+    wget -qO- -t 1 "$notify_url" # &> /dev/null 2>&1
 fi
diff --git a/Core/Remote/piscal_manager.sh b/Core/Remote/piscal_manager.sh
index 53029d6..7452630 100644
--- a/Core/Remote/piscal_manager.sh
+++ b/Core/Remote/piscal_manager.sh
@@ -89,7 +89,15 @@ pid_path="$working_directory/$pid_filename"
 
 ## Process task
 if [ "$task" = "launch" ]; then
-    # TODO: verify process isn't running yet
+    # verify process isn't running yet
+    pid=$(head -n 1 $pid_path)
+    # if the pid exists, check the process status using ps
+    if ps -p $pid > /dev/null; then
+        # if it is in ps, then it's still running
+        echo still running
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    
     piscal_config_file="$working_directory"/piscal.cfg
     # write config file for piscal
     echo $photosynthetic_type > "$piscal_config_file"
@@ -110,7 +118,7 @@ if [ "$task" = "launch" ]; then
     nohup ${command} > $working_directory/$stderr_filename 2>&1 &
 
     # write the PID to a temp file to check for completion later
-    echo $! > $working_directory/$pid_filename
+    echo $! > $pid_path
     echo started
 elif [ "$task" = "get_status" ] || [ "$task" = "get_status_cleaned_input" ]; then
     # if the pid doesn't exist, then process hasn't started
@@ -140,24 +148,32 @@ elif [ "$task" = "get_status" ] || [ "$task" = "get_status_cleaned_input" ]; the
         echo complete
         if [ "$task" = "get_status" ]; then
             echo "#touser"
-            find "$output_directory"/*
+            find "$output_directory"/* 2>/dev/null
             
             cleaned_input_directory="$working_directory/$cleaned_input_directory_name"
             echo "#clninput"
-            find "$cleaned_input_directory"/*
+            find "$cleaned_input_directory"/* 2>/dev/null
             
             nottouser_directory="$working_directory/$nottouser_directory_name"
             echo "#nottouser"
-            find "$nottouser_directory"/*
+            find "$nottouser_directory"/* 2>/dev/null
+            exit 0
        fi
     fi
 elif [ "$task" = "cleanup" ]; then
+    pid=$(head -n 1 $pid_path)
+    # if the pid exists, check the process status using ps
+    if ps -p $pid > /dev/null; then
+        # if it is in ps, then it's still running
+        echo still running
+        exit 1
+    fi
     rm -rf "$working_directory"
 elif [ "$task" = "kill" ]; then
     # if the pid doesn't exist, then process hasn't started
     if [ ! -f "$pid_path" ]; then
         echo "not started"
-        exit
+        exit 1
     fi
 
     pid=$(head -n 1 $pid_path)