diff --git a/agent/agent_linux.go b/agent/agent_linux.go
index a309295..677d881 100644
--- a/agent/agent_linux.go
+++ b/agent/agent_linux.go
@@ -254,6 +254,12 @@ func (a *Agent) NixMeshNodeID() string {
 	var meshNodeID string
 	meshSuccess := false
 	a.Logger.Debugln("Getting mesh node id")
+
+	if !trmm.FileExists(a.MeshSystemEXE) {
+		a.Logger.Debugln(a.MeshSystemEXE, "does not exist. Skipping.")
+		return ""
+	}
+
 	opts := a.NewCMDOpts()
 	opts.IsExecutable = true
 	opts.Shell = a.MeshSystemEXE
diff --git a/agent/svc.go b/agent/svc.go
index 8b004ff..6e21b15 100644
--- a/agent/svc.go
+++ b/agent/svc.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (a *Agent) AgentSvc() {
 		time.Sleep(time.Duration(randRange(100, 400)) * time.Millisecond)
 	}
 
-	a.SyncMeshNodeID()
+	go a.SyncMeshNodeID()
 
 	time.Sleep(time.Duration(randRange(1, 3)) * time.Second)
 	a.AgentStartup()