diff --git a/conduit/pipeline/pipeline.go b/conduit/pipeline/pipeline.go
index 2f89f233..d23979d0 100644
--- a/conduit/pipeline/pipeline.go
+++ b/conduit/pipeline/pipeline.go
@@ -383,12 +383,13 @@ func (p *pipelineImpl) Start() {
 		for {
 		pipelineRun:
 			metrics.PipelineRetryCount.Observe(float64(retry))
-			if retry > p.cfg.RetryCount {
+			if retry > p.cfg.RetryCount && p.cfg.RetryCount != 0 {
 				p.logger.Errorf("Pipeline has exceeded maximum retry count (%d) - stopping...", p.cfg.RetryCount)
 				return
 			}
 
 			if retry > 0 {
+				p.logger.Infof("Retry number %d resuming after a %s retry delay.", retry, p.cfg.RetryDelay)
 				time.Sleep(p.cfg.RetryDelay)
 			}
 
diff --git a/conduit/pipeline/pipeline_test.go b/conduit/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
index 97dcd436..73692333 100644
--- a/conduit/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
+++ b/conduit/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus/hooks/test"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/mock"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/algorand/conduit/conduit"
 	"github.com/algorand/conduit/conduit/data"
@@ -684,17 +686,37 @@ func (e *errorImporter) GetBlock(_ uint64) (data.BlockData, error) {
 
 // TestPipelineRetryVariables tests that modifying the retry variables results in longer time taken for a pipeline to run
 func TestPipelineRetryVariables(t *testing.T) {
+	maxDuration := 5 * time.Second
+	epsilon := 250 * time.Millisecond // allow for some error in timing
 	tests := []struct {
 		name          string
 		retryDelay    time.Duration
 		retryCount    uint64
 		totalDuration time.Duration
-		epsilon       time.Duration
 	}{
-		{"0 seconds", 2 * time.Second, 0, 0 * time.Second, 1 * time.Second},
-		{"2 seconds", 2 * time.Second, 1, 2 * time.Second, 1 * time.Second},
-		{"4 seconds", 2 * time.Second, 2, 4 * time.Second, 1 * time.Second},
-		{"10 seconds", 2 * time.Second, 5, 10 * time.Second, 1 * time.Second},
+		{
+			name:          "retryCount=0 (unlimited)",
+			retryDelay:    500 * time.Millisecond,
+			totalDuration: maxDuration,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "retryCount=1",
+			retryDelay:    500 * time.Millisecond,
+			retryCount:    1,
+			totalDuration: 500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "retryCount=2",
+			retryDelay:    500 * time.Millisecond,
+			retryCount:    2,
+			totalDuration: 1 * time.Second,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "retryCount=5",
+			retryDelay:    500 * time.Millisecond,
+			retryCount:    5,
+			totalDuration: 2500 * time.Millisecond,
+		},
 	}
 	for _, testCase := range tests {
 		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -703,9 +725,10 @@ func TestPipelineRetryVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			var pImporter importers.Importer = errImporter
 			var pProcessor processors.Processor = &mockProcessor{}
 			var pExporter exporters.Exporter = &mockExporter{}
-			l, _ := test.NewNullLogger()
+			l, hook := test.NewNullLogger()
+			ctx, cf := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 			pImpl := pipelineImpl{
-				ctx: context.Background(),
+				ctx: ctx,
 				cfg: &data.Config{
 					RetryCount: testCase.retryCount,
 					RetryDelay: testCase.retryDelay,
@@ -744,15 +767,36 @@ func TestPipelineRetryVariables(t *testing.T) {
 			err := pImpl.Init()
 			assert.Nil(t, err)
 			before := time.Now()
+			done := false
+			// test for "unlimited" timeout
+			go func() {
+				time.Sleep(maxDuration)
+				if !done {
+					cf()
+					assert.Equal(t, testCase.totalDuration, maxDuration)
+				}
+			}()
 			pImpl.Start()
 			pImpl.wg.Wait()
 			after := time.Now()
 			timeTaken := after.Sub(before)
 
-			msg := fmt.Sprintf("seconds taken: %s, expected duration seconds: %s, epsilon: %s", timeTaken.String(), testCase.totalDuration.String(), testCase.epsilon.String())
-			assert.WithinDurationf(t, before.Add(testCase.totalDuration), after, testCase.epsilon, msg)
-			assert.Equal(t, errImporter.GetBlockCount, testCase.retryCount+1)
-
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("seconds taken: %s, expected duration seconds: %s, epsilon: %s", timeTaken.String(), testCase.totalDuration.String(), epsilon)
+			assert.WithinDurationf(t, before.Add(testCase.totalDuration), after, epsilon, msg)
+			if testCase.retryCount == 0 {
+				assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, errImporter.GetBlockCount, uint64(1))
+			} else {
+				assert.Equal(t, errImporter.GetBlockCount, testCase.retryCount+1)
+			}
+			done = true
+			fmt.Println(hook.AllEntries())
+			for _, entry := range hook.AllEntries() {
+				str, err := entry.String()
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				if strings.HasPrefix(str, "Retry number 1") {
+					assert.Equal(t, "Retry number 1 resuming after a 500ms retry delay.", str)
+				}
+			}
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer.go b/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer.go
index ff289e07..43f6e425 100644
--- a/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer.go
+++ b/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer.go
@@ -229,11 +229,7 @@ func checkRounds(logger *logrus.Logger, catchpointRound, nodeRound, targetRound
 }
 
 func (algodImp *algodImporter) needsCatchup(targetRound uint64) bool {
-	if algodImp.mode == followerMode {
-		if targetRound == 0 {
-			algodImp.logger.Info("No state deltas are ever available for round 0")
-			return true
-		}
+	if algodImp.mode == followerMode && targetRound != 0 {
 		// If we are in follower mode, check if the round delta is available.
 		_, err := algodImp.getDelta(targetRound)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -272,7 +268,9 @@ func (algodImp *algodImporter) catchupNode(network string, targetRound uint64) e
 			var err error
 			catchpoint, err = getMissingCatchpointLabel(URL, targetRound)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to lookup catchpoint: %w", err)
+				// catchpoints are only available for past 6 months.
+				// This case handles the scenario where the catchpoint is not available.
+				algodImp.logger.Warnf("unable to lookup catchpoint: %s", err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer_test.go b/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer_test.go
index a8dba1e3..b0df4622 100644
--- a/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer_test.go
+++ b/conduit/plugins/importers/algod/algod_importer_test.go
@@ -228,8 +228,10 @@ func TestInitCatchup(t *testing.T) {
 			catchpoint: "",
 			algodServer: NewAlgodServer(
 				GenesisResponder,
+				MakePostSyncRoundResponder(http.StatusOK),
+				MakeJsonResponderSeries("/v2/status", []int{http.StatusOK, http.StatusBadRequest}, []interface{}{models.NodeStatus{LastRound: 1235}}),
 			),
-			err: "failed to lookup catchpoint label list",
+			logs: []string{"failed to lookup catchpoint label list"},
 		}, {
 			name:        "wait for node to catchup error",
 			adminToken:  "admin",
@@ -712,20 +714,20 @@ func TestNeedsCatchup(t *testing.T) {
 			result:     false,
 		},
 		{
-			name:       "Follower mode round 0, no delta",
+			name:       "Follower mode round 0, no block",
 			mode:       followerMode,
 			round:      0,
 			responders: []algodCustomHandler{},
-			logMsg:     "No state deltas are ever available for round 0",
+			logMsg:     "Unable to fetch block for round 0",
 			result:     true,
 		},
 		{
 			name:       "Follower mode round 0, delta",
 			mode:       followerMode,
 			round:      0,
-			responders: []algodCustomHandler{LedgerStateDeltaResponder},
-			logMsg:     "No state deltas are ever available for round 0",
-			result:     true,
+			responders: []algodCustomHandler{BlockResponder},
+			logMsg:     "",
+			result:     false,
 		},
 		{
 			name:       "Archival mode, no block",
diff --git a/pkg/cli/internal/initialize/conduit.yml.example b/pkg/cli/internal/initialize/conduit.yml.example
index 5ab2072f..22556265 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/internal/initialize/conduit.yml.example
+++ b/pkg/cli/internal/initialize/conduit.yml.example
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ log-level: INFO
 #log-file:
 
 # Number of retries to perform after a pipeline plugin error.
+# Set to 0 to retry forever.
 retry-count: 10
 
 # Time duration to wait between retry attempts.