diff --git a/lib/bitcoin_rpc.py b/lib/bitcoin_rpc.py
index 701f28e..ff87f40 100644
--- a/lib/bitcoin_rpc.py
+++ b/lib/bitcoin_rpc.py
@@ -39,7 +39,24 @@ class BitcoinRPC(object):
                 'params': params,
                 'id': '1',
             }))
-
+    
+    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+    def check_submitblock(self):
+        try:
+            log.info("Checking for submitblock")
+            resp = (yield self._call('submitblock', []))
+            defer.returnValue(None)
+        except Exception, e:
+            if (str(e) == "404 Not Found"):
+                log.debug("No submitblock detected.")
+                defer.returnValue(False)
+            elif (str(e) == "500 Internal Server Error"):
+                log.debug("submitblock detected.")
+                defer.returnValue(True)
+            else:
+                log.debug("unknown submitblock check result.")
+                defer.returnValue(None)
+    
     @defer.inlineCallbacks
     def submitblock(self, block_hex, hash_hex):
         # Try submitblock if that fails, go to getblocktemplate
diff --git a/lib/bitcoin_rpc_manager.py b/lib/bitcoin_rpc_manager.py
index 1bb866c..012760b 100644
--- a/lib/bitcoin_rpc_manager.py
+++ b/lib/bitcoin_rpc_manager.py
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@ class BitcoinRPCManager(object):
                 return self.conns[self.curr_conn]._call(method,params)
             except:
                 self.next_connection()
+        def check_submitblock(self):
+            while True:
+               try:
+                  return self.conns[self.curr_conn].check_submitblock()
+            except:
+                  self.next_connection()
 
     def submitblock(self, block_hex, hash_hex):
         while True:
diff --git a/lib/ircbot.py.save b/lib/ircbot.py.save
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da76f2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ircbot.py.save
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+
+ if args.irc_announce:
+            from twisted.words.protocols import irc
+            class IRCClient(irc.IRCClient):
+                nickname = 'xpool%02i' % (random.randrange(100),)
+                channel = net.ANNOUNCE_CHANNEL
+                def lineReceived(self, line):
+                    if p2pool.DEBUG:
+                        print repr(line)
+                    irc.IRCClient.lineReceived(self, line)
+                def signedOn(self):
+                    self.in_channel = False
+                    irc.IRCClient.signedOn(self)
+                    self.factory.resetDelay()
+                    self.join(self.channel)
+                    @defer.inlineCallbacks
+                    def new_share(share):
+                        if not self.in_channel:
+                            return
+                        if share.pow_hash <= share.header['bits'].target and abs(share.timestamp - time.time()) < 10*60:
+                            yield deferral.sleep(random.expovariate(1/60))
+                            message = '\x02%s BLOCK FOUND by %s! %s%064x' % (net.NAME.upper(), bitcoin_data.script2_to_address(share.new_script, net.PARENT), net.PARENT.BLOCK_EXPLORER_URL_PREFIX, share.header_hash)
+                            if all('%x' % (share.header_hash,) not in old_message for old_message in self.recent_messages):
+                                self.say(self.channel, message)
+                                self._remember_message(message)
+                    self.watch_id = node.tracker.verified.added.watch(new_share)
+                    self.recent_messages = []
+                def joined(self, channel):
+                    self.in_channel = True
+                def left(self, channel):
+                    self.in_channel = False
+                def _remember_message(self, message):
+                    self.recent_messages.append(message)
+                    while len(self.recent_messages) > 100:
+                        self.recent_messages.pop(0)
+                def privmsg(self, user, channel, message):
+                    if channel == self.channel:
+                        self._remember_message(message)
+                def connectionLost(self, reason):
+                    node.tracker.verified.added.unwatch(self.watch_id)
+                    print 'IRC connection lost:', reason.getErrorMessage()
+            class IRCClientFactory(protocol.ReconnectingClientFactory):
+                protocol = IRCClient
+            reactor.connectTCP("irc.freenode.net", 6667, IRCClientFactory())
diff --git a/mining/__init__.py b/mining/__init__.py
index 197e231..9544e3a 100644
--- a/mining/__init__.py
+++ b/mining/__init__.py
@@ -39,6 +39,22 @@ def setup(on_startup):
     #         - we are not still downloading the blockchain        (Sleep)
     log.info("Connecting to litecoind...")
     while True:
+        try:
+            result = (yield bitcoin_rpc.check_submitblock())
+            if result == True:
+                log.info("Found submitblock")
+            elif result == False:
+                log.info("Did not find submitblock")
+            else:
+                log.info("unknown submitblock result")
+        except ConnectionRefusedError, e:
+            log.error("Connection refused while trying to connect to the coind (are your COIND_* settings correct?)")
+            reactor.stop()
+            break
+
+        except Exception, e:
+            log.debug(str(e))
+
         try:
             result = (yield bitcoin_rpc.getblocktemplate())
             if isinstance(result, dict):