diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
index 571a044a3..33a3c2a10 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
@@ -1388,6 +1388,7 @@ temporaryAgentError = \case
   PROXY _ _ (ProxyProtocolError (SMP.PROXY (SMP.BROKER e))) -> tempBrokerError e
   PROXY _ _ (ProxyProtocolError (SMP.PROXY SMP.NO_SESSION)) -> True
   INACTIVE -> True
+  CRITICAL True _ -> True -- critical errors that do not show restart button are likely to be permanent
   _ -> False
   where
     tempBrokerError = \case
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
index 069470f0b..c08ccef63 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ module Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Env.SQLite
 where
 
 import Control.Concurrent (ThreadId)
+import Control.Exception (BlockedIndefinitelyOnSTM (..), SomeException, fromException)
 import Control.Monad.Except
 import Control.Monad.IO.Unlift
 import Control.Monad.Reader
@@ -78,7 +79,6 @@ import Simplex.Messaging.Transport (SMPVersion)
 import Simplex.Messaging.Util (allFinally, catchAllErrors, catchAllErrors', tryAllErrors, tryAllErrors')
 import System.Mem.Weak (Weak)
 import System.Random (StdGen, newStdGen)
-import UnliftIO (SomeException)
 import UnliftIO.STM
 
 type AM' a = ReaderT Env IO a
@@ -313,7 +313,9 @@ agentFinally = allFinally mkInternal
 {-# INLINE agentFinally #-}
 
 mkInternal :: SomeException -> AgentErrorType
-mkInternal = INTERNAL . show
+mkInternal e = case fromException e of
+  Just BlockedIndefinitelyOnSTM -> CRITICAL True "Thread blocked indefinitely in STM transaction"
+  _ -> INTERNAL $ show e
 {-# INLINE mkInternal #-}
 
 data Worker = Worker