diff --git a/turtles/mine.lua b/turtles/mine.lua
index a49a936..35c4d91 100644
--- a/turtles/mine.lua
+++ b/turtles/mine.lua
@@ -70,10 +70,17 @@ function _count_move_dir(dir)
     end
 end
 
-function move_forward()
+function move_forward(will_retry)
     rc, desc = turtle.forward()
-    if not rc then abort("Move: "..desc) end
+    if not rc then
+        if will_retry then
+            return false
+        else
+            abort("Move: "..desc)
+        end
+    end
     _count_move_dir(facing)
+    return true
 end
 function move_back()
     rc, desc = turtle.back()
@@ -91,6 +98,20 @@ function move_down()
     height = height - 1
 end
 
+function tryhard_forward()
+    for i=1,5 do
+        while turtle.detect() do
+            turtle.dig()
+        end
+        if move_forward(true) then
+            return true
+        else
+            sleep(1)
+        end
+    end
+    abort('Giving up trying to move forward.')
+end
+
 function go_to_depth(dd)
     turn_abs(0)
     while depth > dd do
@@ -285,9 +306,11 @@ function mine_shaft()
             turtle.dig()
         end
 
-        move_forward()
+        tryhard_forward()
 
-        mine_around()
+        if depth > 1 then -- if not we confuse find_next_shaft
+            mine_around()
+        end
     end
     turn_abs(2)
     while depth > 0 do