diff --git a/lib/crypto/ec-elliptic.js b/lib/crypto/ec-elliptic.js
index 757bedb2..9d96c45a 100644
--- a/lib/crypto/ec-elliptic.js
+++ b/lib/crypto/ec-elliptic.js
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ var BN = require('bn.js');
 
 var ec = exports;
 
+/**
+ * Whether we're using native bindings.
+ * @const {Boolean}
+ */
+
+ec.binding = false;
+
 /**
  * Generate a private key.
  * @returns {Buffer} Private key.
diff --git a/lib/crypto/ec-secp256k1.js b/lib/crypto/ec-secp256k1.js
index afa68913..fc73e150 100644
--- a/lib/crypto/ec-secp256k1.js
+++ b/lib/crypto/ec-secp256k1.js
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ var HALF_ORDER = new Buffer(
 
 var ec = exports;
 
+/**
+ * Whether we're using native bindings.
+ * @const {Boolean}
+ */
+
+ec.binding = true;
+
 /**
  * Generate a private key.
  * @returns {Buffer} Private key.
diff --git a/lib/node/node.js b/lib/node/node.js
index 36f34ab9..f0856d2d 100644
--- a/lib/node/node.js
+++ b/lib/node/node.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ var Network = require('../protocol/network');
 var Logger = require('./logger');
 var NodeClient = require('./nodeclient');
 var workerPool = require('../workers/workerpool').pool;
+var ec = require('../crypto/ec');
+var native = require('../utils/native');
 
 /**
  * Base class from which every other
@@ -116,15 +118,14 @@ Node.prototype.init = function init(options) {
   this.client = new NodeClient(this);
 
   this.on('preopen', function() {
-    self.handleOpen();
+    self.handlePreopen();
   });
 
   this.on('open', function() {
-    self.startTime = util.now();
+    self.handleOpen();
   });
 
   this.on('close', function() {
-    self.startTime = -1;
     self.handleClose();
   });
 };
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ Node.prototype.init = function init(options) {
  * @private
  */
 
-Node.prototype.handleOpen = function handleOpen() {
+Node.prototype.handlePreopen = function handlePreopen() {
   var self = this;
 
   this.logger.open();
@@ -171,6 +172,30 @@ Node.prototype.handleOpen = function handleOpen() {
   });
 };
 
+/**
+ * Open node.
+ * @private
+ */
+
+Node.prototype.handleOpen = function handleOpen() {
+  this.startTime = util.now();
+
+  if (!ec.binding) {
+    this.logger.warning('Warning: secp256k1-node was not built.');
+    this.logger.warning('Verification will be slow.');
+  }
+
+  if (!native.binding) {
+    this.logger.warning('Warning: bcoin-native was not built.');
+    this.logger.warning('Hashing will be slow.');
+  }
+
+  if (!workerPool.enabled) {
+    this.logger.warning('Warning: worker pool is disabled.');
+    this.logger.warning('Verification will be slow.');
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * Close node. Unbind all events.
  * @private
@@ -179,6 +204,8 @@ Node.prototype.handleOpen = function handleOpen() {
 Node.prototype.handleClose = function handleClose() {
   var i, bound;
 
+  this.startTime = -1;
+
   this.logger.close();
 
   for (i = 0; i < this.bound.length; i++) {
diff --git a/lib/workers/workerpool.js b/lib/workers/workerpool.js
index 65722e76..c4d08ecb 100644
--- a/lib/workers/workerpool.js
+++ b/lib/workers/workerpool.js
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ function getCores() {
  */
 
 exports.pool = new WorkerPool();
-exports.pool.enabled = false;
+exports.pool.enabled = true;
 
 exports.set = function set(options) {
   this.pool.set({
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ exports.set = function set(options) {
 };
 
 exports.set({
-  useWorkers: +process.env.BCOIN_USE_WORKERS === 1,
+  useWorkers: +process.env.BCOIN_USE_WORKERS !== 0,
   maxWorkers: +process.env.BCOIN_MAX_WORKERS,
   workerTimeout: +process.env.BCOIN_WORKER_TIMEOUT
 });