diff --git a/kubernetes-manifests/cartservice.yaml b/kubernetes-manifests/cartservice.yaml
index 7d3f564..a0d24f6 100644
--- a/kubernetes-manifests/cartservice.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes-manifests/cartservice.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ spec:
           value: "7070"
         - name: LISTEN_ADDR
           value: "0.0.0.0"
+        - name: GRPC_TRACE
+          value: "all"
+        - name: GRPC_VERBOSITY
+          value: "debug"
         resources:
           requests:
             cpu: 200m
diff --git a/src/cartservice/Dockerfile b/src/cartservice/Dockerfile
index 5440770..dd8993c 100644
--- a/src/cartservice/Dockerfile
+++ b/src/cartservice/Dockerfile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ RUN apt update && apt install net-tools telnet
 WORKDIR /app
 COPY . .
 RUN dotnet restore && \
-    dotnet build \
+    dotnet build && \
     dotnet publish
 WORKDIR /app/bin/Debug/netcoreapp2.0
 ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "cartservice.dll", "start"]
diff --git a/src/frontend/handlers.go b/src/frontend/handlers.go
index 514f2aa..6bf45b0 100644
--- a/src/frontend/handlers.go
+++ b/src/frontend/handlers.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	pb "frontend/genproto"
 )
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ func ensureSessionID(next http.HandlerFunc) http.HandlerFunc {
 				MaxAge: cookieMaxAge,
 			})
 		} else if err != nil {
-			renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("unrecognized cookie error: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "unrecognized cookie error"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
 		} else {
 			sessionID = c.Value
@@ -51,17 +52,17 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) homeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	log.Printf("[home] session_id=%s currency=%s", sessionID(r), currentCurrency(r))
 	currencies, err := fe.getCurrencies(r.Context())
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve currencies: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve currencies"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	products, err := fe.getProducts(r.Context())
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve products: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve products"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	cart, err := fe.getCart(r.Context(), sessionID(r))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve cart: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve cart"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) homeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	for i, p := range products {
 		price, err := fe.convertCurrency(r.Context(), p.GetPriceUsd(), currentCurrency(r))
 		if err != nil {
-			renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to do currency conversion for product %s: %+v", p.GetId(), err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to do currency conversion for product %s", p.GetId()), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
 		}
 		ps[i] = productView{p, price}
@@ -93,36 +94,36 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) homeHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 func (fe *frontendServer) productHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	id := mux.Vars(r)["id"]
 	if id == "" {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("product id not specified"), http.StatusBadRequest)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.New("product id not specified"), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
 	log.Printf("[productHandler] id=%s currency=%s session=%s", id, currentCurrency(r), sessionID(r))
 	p, err := fe.getProduct(r.Context(), id)
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve product: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve product"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	currencies, err := fe.getCurrencies(r.Context())
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve currencies: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve currencies"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	cart, err := fe.getCart(r.Context(), sessionID(r))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve cart: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve cart"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	price, err := fe.convertCurrency(r.Context(), p.GetPriceUsd(), currentCurrency(r))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to convert currency: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to convert currency"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	recommendations, err := fe.getRecommendations(r.Context(), sessionID(r), []string{id})
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to get product recommendations: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get product recommendations"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -147,19 +148,19 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) addToCartHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reques
 	quantity, _ := strconv.ParseUint(r.FormValue("quantity"), 10, 32)
 	productID := r.FormValue("product_id")
 	if productID == "" || quantity == 0 {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("invalid form input"), http.StatusBadRequest)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.New("invalid form input"), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
 	log.Printf("[addToCart] product_id=%s qty=%d session_id=%s", productID, quantity, sessionID(r))
 
 	p, err := fe.getProduct(r.Context(), productID)
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve product: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve product"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	if err := fe.insertCart(r.Context(), sessionID(r), p.GetId(), int32(quantity)); err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to add to cart: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to add to cart"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	w.Header().Set("location", "/cart")
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) emptyCartHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reques
 	log.Printf("[emptyCart] session_id=%s", sessionID(r))
 
 	if err := fe.emptyCart(r.Context(), sessionID(r)); err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to empty cart: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to empty cart"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	w.Header().Set("location", "/")
@@ -181,24 +182,24 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) viewCartHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 	log.Printf("[viewCart] session_id=%s", sessionID(r))
 	currencies, err := fe.getCurrencies(r.Context())
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve currencies: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve currencies"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	cart, err := fe.getCart(r.Context(), sessionID(r))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve cart: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "could not retrieve cart"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	recommendations, err := fe.getRecommendations(r.Context(), sessionID(r), cartIDs(cart))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to get product recommendations: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get product recommendations"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
 	shippingCost, err := fe.getShippingQuote(r.Context(), cart, currentCurrency(r))
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to get shipping quote: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get shipping quote"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -212,12 +213,12 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) viewCartHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 	for i, item := range cart {
 		p, err := fe.getProduct(r.Context(), item.GetProductId())
 		if err != nil {
-			renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not retrieve product #%s: %+v", item.GetProductId(), err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrapf(err, "could not retrieve product #%s", item.GetProductId()), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
 		}
 		price, err := fe.convertCurrency(r.Context(), p.GetPriceUsd(), currentCurrency(r))
 		if err != nil {
-			renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("could not convert currency for product #%s: %+v", item.GetProductId(), err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrapf(err, "could not convert currency for product #%s", item.GetProductId()), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) placeOrderHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 				Country:       country},
 		})
 	if err != nil {
-		renderHTTPError(w, fmt.Errorf("failed to complete the order: %+v", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		renderHTTPError(w, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to complete the order"), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
 	log.Printf("order #%s completed", order.GetOrder().GetOrderId())
@@ -334,10 +335,12 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) setCurrencyHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Requ
 }
 
 func renderHTTPError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error, code int) {
-	log.Printf("[error] %+v (code=%d)", err, code)
+	log.Printf("[error](code=%d) %+v ", code, err)
+	errMsg := fmt.Sprintf("%+v", err)
+
 	w.WriteHeader(code)
 	templates.ExecuteTemplate(w, "error", map[string]interface{}{
-		"error":       err.Error(),
+		"error":       errMsg,
 		"status_code": code,
 		"status":      http.StatusText(code)})
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/main.go b/src/frontend/main.go
index f14f755..dcbe399 100644
--- a/src/frontend/main.go
+++ b/src/frontend/main.go
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ func main() {
 	if os.Getenv("PORT") != "" {
 		srvPort = os.Getenv("PORT")
 	}
+	addr := os.Getenv("LISTEN_ADDR")
 	svc := new(frontendServer)
 	mustMapEnv(&svc.productCatalogSvcAddr, "PRODUCT_CATALOG_SERVICE_ADDR")
 	mustMapEnv(&svc.currencySvcAddr, "CURRENCY_SERVICE_ADDR")
@@ -64,31 +68,12 @@ func main() {
 	mustMapEnv(&svc.checkoutSvcAddr, "CHECKOUT_SERVICE_ADDR")
 	mustMapEnv(&svc.shippingSvcAddr, "SHIPPING_SERVICE_ADDR")
 
-	var err error
-	svc.currencySvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.currencySvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect currency service: %+v", err)
-	}
-	svc.productCatalogSvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.productCatalogSvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect productcatalog service: %+v", err)
-	}
-	svc.cartSvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.cartSvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect cart service at %s: %+v", svc.cartSvcAddr, err)
-	}
-	svc.recommendationSvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.recommendationSvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect recommendation service at %s: %+v", svc.recommendationSvcAddr, err)
-	}
-	svc.shippingSvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.shippingSvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect shipping service at %s: %+v", svc.shippingSvcAddr, err)
-	}
-	svc.checkoutSvcConn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, svc.checkoutSvcAddr, grpc.WithInsecure())
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to connect checkout service at %s: %+v", svc.checkoutSvcAddr, err)
-	}
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.currencySvcConn, svc.currencySvcAddr)
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.productCatalogSvcConn, svc.productCatalogSvcAddr)
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.cartSvcConn, svc.cartSvcAddr)
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.recommendationSvcConn, svc.recommendationSvcAddr)
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.shippingSvcConn, svc.shippingSvcAddr)
+	mustConnGRPC(ctx, &svc.checkoutSvcConn, svc.checkoutSvcAddr)
 
 	r := mux.NewRouter()
 	r.HandleFunc("/", ensureSessionID(svc.homeHandler)).Methods(http.MethodGet, http.MethodHead)
@@ -100,8 +85,8 @@ func main() {
 	r.HandleFunc("/logout", svc.logoutHandler).Methods(http.MethodGet)
 	r.HandleFunc("/cart/checkout", ensureSessionID(svc.placeOrderHandler)).Methods(http.MethodPost)
 	r.PathPrefix("/static/").Handler(http.StripPrefix("/static/", http.FileServer(http.Dir("./static/"))))
-	log.Printf("starting server on :" + srvPort)
-	log.Fatal(http.ListenAndServe(":"+srvPort, r))
+	log.Printf("starting server on " + addr + ":" + srvPort)
+	log.Fatal(http.ListenAndServe(addr+":"+srvPort, r))
 }
 
 func mustMapEnv(target *string, envKey string) {
@@ -111,3 +96,11 @@ func mustMapEnv(target *string, envKey string) {
 	}
 	*target = v
 }
+
+func mustConnGRPC(ctx context.Context, conn **grpc.ClientConn, addr string) {
+	var err error
+	*conn, err = grpc.DialContext(ctx, addr, grpc.WithInsecure(), grpc.WithTimeout(time.Second*3))
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(errors.Wrapf(err, "grpc: failed to connect %s", addr))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/rpc.go b/src/frontend/rpc.go
index 00657f3..1008241 100644
--- a/src/frontend/rpc.go
+++ b/src/frontend/rpc.go
@@ -2,13 +2,10 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"fmt"
-
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
 
 	pb "frontend/genproto"
 
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -44,10 +41,6 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) getProduct(ctx context.Context, id string) (*pb.Produc
 
 func (fe *frontendServer) getCart(ctx context.Context, userID string) ([]*pb.CartItem, error) {
 	resp, err := pb.NewCartServiceClient(fe.cartSvcConn).GetCart(ctx, &pb.GetCartRequest{UserId: userID})
-	if status.Code(err) == codes.Canceled {
-		// TODO(ahmetb) remove this workaround when cartservice returns ok response to GetCart() with non-existing users
-		return nil, nil
-	}
 	return resp.GetItems(), err
 }
 
@@ -85,10 +78,7 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) getShippingQuote(ctx context.Context, items []*pb.Cart
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	localized, err := fe.convertCurrency(ctx, quote.GetCostUsd(), currency)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to convert currency for shipping cost: %+v", err)
-	}
-	return localized, nil
+	return localized, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to convert currency for shipping cost")
 }
 
 func (fe *frontendServer) getRecommendations(ctx context.Context, userID string, productIDs []string) ([]*pb.Product, error) {
@@ -101,7 +91,7 @@ func (fe *frontendServer) getRecommendations(ctx context.Context, userID string,
 	for i, v := range resp.GetProductIds() {
 		p, err := fe.getProduct(ctx, v)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get recommended product info (#%s): %+v", v, err)
+			return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to get recommended product info (#%s)", v)
 		}
 		out[i] = p
 	}
diff --git a/src/frontend/templates/error.html b/src/frontend/templates/error.html
index 24e167a..ce8baaa 100644
--- a/src/frontend/templates/error.html
+++ b/src/frontend/templates/error.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
                 <p>Something has failed. Below are some details for debugging.</p>
                 
                 <p><strong>HTTP Status:</strong> {{.status_code}} {{.status}}</p>
-                <pre class="border border-danger"
+                <pre class="border border-danger p-3"
                     style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: keep-all;">
                     {{- .error -}}
                 </pre>