diff --git a/extensions/openpower-pels/pldm_interface.cpp b/extensions/openpower-pels/pldm_interface.cpp
index 502cc7d..3326d82 100644
--- a/extensions/openpower-pels/pldm_interface.cpp
+++ b/extensions/openpower-pels/pldm_interface.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
         auto e = errno;
         lg2::error("pldm_open failed.  errno = {ERRNO}, rc = {RC}", "ERRNO", e,
                    "RC", _fd);
-        throw std::exception{};
+        throw std::runtime_error{"pldm_open failed"};
     }
 }
 
@@ -140,7 +140,14 @@
     }
     else
     {
-        startCommand();
+        try
+        {
+            startCommand();
+        }
+        catch (const std::exception& e)
+        {
+            callResponseFunc(ResponseStatus::failure);
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -167,9 +174,11 @@
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e)
     {
+        lg2::error("startCommand exception: {ERROR}", "ERROR", e);
+
         cleanupCmd();
 
-        callResponseFunc(ResponseStatus::failure);
+        throw;
     }
 }
 
@@ -184,6 +193,7 @@
         lg2::error(
             "Error calling sd_bus_call_method_async, rc = {RC}, msg = {MSG}",
             "RC", rc, "MSG", strerror(-rc));
+        throw std::runtime_error{"sd_bus_call_method_async failed"};
     }
 }
 
@@ -237,7 +247,7 @@
     if (rc != PLDM_SUCCESS)
     {
         lg2::error("encode_new_file_req failed, rc = {RC}", "RC", rc);
-        throw std::exception{};
+        throw std::runtime_error{"encode_new_file_req failed"};
     }
 
     rc = pldm_send(_eid, _fd, requestMsg.data(), requestMsg.size());
@@ -246,8 +256,7 @@
         auto e = errno;
         lg2::error("pldm_send failed, rc = {RC}, errno = {ERRNO}", "RC", rc,
                    "ERRNO", e);
-
-        throw std::exception{};
+        throw std::runtime_error{"pldm_send failed"};
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/openpower-pels/host_notifier_test.cpp b/test/openpower-pels/host_notifier_test.cpp
index 6fc235b..971dadd 100644
--- a/test/openpower-pels/host_notifier_test.cpp
+++ b/test/openpower-pels/host_notifier_test.cpp
@@ -449,6 +449,70 @@
     EXPECT_EQ(notifier.queueSize(), 2);
 }
 
+// Test that if the command cannot be started it will give
+// up but still try again later
+TEST_F(HostNotifierTest, TestCannotStartCmd)
+{
+    sdeventplus::Event sdEvent{event};
+
+    HostNotifier notifier{repo, dataIface, std::move(hostIface)};
+
+    // Make it behave like startCommand() fails.
+    auto sendFailure = [this](uint32_t /*id*/, uint32_t /*size*/) {
+        this->mockHostIface->cancelCmd();
+        return CmdStatus::failure;
+    };
+
+    auto sendSuccess = [this](uint32_t /*id*/, uint32_t /*size*/) {
+        return this->mockHostIface->send(0);
+    };
+
+    // Fails 16 times (1 fail + 15  retries) and
+    // then start working.
+    EXPECT_CALL(*mockHostIface, sendNewLogCmd(_, _))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillOnce(Invoke(sendFailure))
+        .WillRepeatedly(Invoke(sendSuccess));
+
+    dataIface.changeHostState(true);
+
+    auto pel = makePEL();
+    repo.add(pel);
+
+    // Clock more retries than necessary
+    runEvents(sdEvent, 40, mockHostIface->getReceiveRetryDelay());
+
+    // Didn't get far enough for a cmd to be processed
+    EXPECT_EQ(mockHostIface->numCmdsProcessed(), 0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(notifier.queueSize(), 1);
+
+    // At this point, commands will work again.
+
+    pel = makePEL();
+    repo.add(pel);
+
+    // Run the events to send the PELs
+    runEvents(sdEvent, 5, mockHostIface->getReceiveRetryDelay());
+
+    // All PELs sent
+    EXPECT_EQ(mockHostIface->numCmdsProcessed(), 2);
+    EXPECT_EQ(notifier.queueSize(), 0);
+}
+
 // Cancel an in progress command
 TEST_F(HostNotifierTest, TestCancelCmd)
 {