diff --git a/d2m/actions/register-user.js b/d2m/actions/register-user.js
index 9b5527f6..b605c3ae 100644
--- a/d2m/actions/register-user.js
+++ b/d2m/actions/register-user.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ async function createSim(user) {
 		await api.register(localpart)
 	} catch (e) {
 		// If user creation fails, manually undo the database change. Still isn't perfect, but should help.
-		// (A transaction would be preferable, but I don't think it's safe to leave transaction open across event loop ticks.)
+		// (I would prefer a transaction, but it's not safe to leave transactions open across event loop ticks.)
 		db.prepare("DELETE FROM sim WHERE user_id = ?").run(user.id)
 		throw e
 	}
diff --git a/scripts/seed.js b/scripts/seed.js
index 0f2f23d6..4fc704c1 100644
--- a/scripts/seed.js
+++ b/scripts/seed.js
@@ -67,6 +67,18 @@ async function uploadAutoEmoji(guild, name, filename) {
 
 	console.log("✅ Database is ready...")
 
+	// ensure appservice bot user is registered...
+	try {
+		await api.register(reg.sender_localpart)
+	} catch (e) {
+		if (e.data?.error !== "Internal server error") throw e // "Internal server error" is the only OK error because Synapse says this if you try to register the same username twice.
+	}
+
+	// upload initial images...
+	const avatarUrl = await file.uploadDiscordFileToMxc("https://cadence.moe/friends/out_of_your_element.png")
+
+	console.log("✅ Matrix appservice login works...")
+
 	// upload the L1 L2 emojis to some guild
 	const emojis = db.prepare("SELECT name FROM auto_emoji WHERE name = 'L1' OR name = 'L2'").pluck().all()
 	if (emojis.length !== 2) {
@@ -104,11 +116,6 @@ async function uploadAutoEmoji(guild, name, filename) {
 	}
 	console.log("✅ Emojis are ready...")
 
-	// ensure homeserver well-known is valid and returns reg.ooye.server_name...
-
-	// upload initial images...
-	const avatarUrl = await file.uploadDiscordFileToMxc("https://cadence.moe/friends/out_of_your_element.png")
-
 	// set profile data on discord...
 	const avatarImageBuffer = await fetch("https://cadence.moe/friends/out_of_your_element.png").then(res => res.arrayBuffer())
 	await discord.snow.user.updateSelf({avatar: "data:image/png;base64," + Buffer.from(avatarImageBuffer).toString("base64")})