diff --git a/scripts/distributed.py b/scripts/distributed.py
index 83b3a36..b771250 100644
--- a/scripts/distributed.py
+++ b/scripts/distributed.py
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ class Script(scripts.Script):
 
         try:
             Script.world.initialize(batch_size)
+            Script.world.initial_payload = initial_payload
             logger.debug(f"World initialized!")
         except WorldAlreadyInitialized:
             Script.world.update_world(total_batch_size=batch_size)
@@ -249,6 +250,9 @@ class Script(scripts.Script):
         current_thread().name = "distributed_main"
         Script.initialize(initial_payload=p)
 
+        # save original process_images_inner function for later if we monkeypatch it
+        Script.original_process_images_inner = processing.process_images_inner
+
         # strip scripts that aren't yet supported and warn user
         packed_script_args: List[dict] = []  # list of api formatted per-script argument objects
         # { "script_name": { "args": ["value1", "value2", ...] }
@@ -387,9 +391,12 @@ class Script(scripts.Script):
         if not Script.world.enabled:
             return
 
-        if len(processed.images) >= 1 and Script.master_start is not None:
+        if Script.master_start is not None:
             Script.add_to_gallery(p=p, processed=processed)
 
+        # restore process_images_inner if it was monkey-patched
+        processing.process_images_inner = Script.original_process_images_inner
+
     @staticmethod
     def signal_handler(sig, frame):
         logger.debug("handling interrupt signal")
diff --git a/scripts/spartan/ui.py b/scripts/spartan/ui.py
index bf7f7e7..bbcdd74 100644
--- a/scripts/spartan/ui.py
+++ b/scripts/spartan/ui.py
@@ -354,8 +354,8 @@ class UI:
 
                 with gradio.Tab('Settings'):
                     thin_client_cbx = gradio.Checkbox(
-                        label='Thin-client mode (experimental)',
-                        info="(BROKEN) Only generate images using remote workers. There will be no previews when enabled.",
+                        label='Thin-client mode',
+                        info="Only generate images using remote workers. There will be no previews (yet) when enabled.",
                         value=self.world.thin_client_mode
                     )
                     job_timeout = gradio.Number(
diff --git a/scripts/spartan/worker.py b/scripts/spartan/worker.py
index cfb36bb..2dc8149 100644
--- a/scripts/spartan/worker.py
+++ b/scripts/spartan/worker.py
@@ -618,6 +618,10 @@ class Worker:
         except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError as e:
             logger.error(e)
             return False
+        except requests.ReadTimeout as e:
+            logger.critical(f"worker '{self.label}' is online but not responding (crashed?)")
+            logger.error(e)
+            return False
 
     def mark_unreachable(self):
         if self.state == State.DISABLED:
diff --git a/scripts/spartan/world.py b/scripts/spartan/world.py
index b412d74..494c6fe 100644
--- a/scripts/spartan/world.py
+++ b/scripts/spartan/world.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ from . import shared as sh
 from .pmodels import ConfigModel, Benchmark_Payload
 from .shared import logger, warmup_samples, extension_path
 from .worker import Worker, State
-import asyncio
 from modules.call_queue import wrap_queued_call
+from modules import processing
 
 
 class NotBenchmarked(Exception):
@@ -565,6 +565,22 @@ class World:
             distro_summary += f"'{job.worker.label}' - {job.batch_size * iterations} image(s) @ {job.worker.avg_ipm:.2f} ipm\n"
         logger.info(distro_summary)
 
+        if self.thin_client_mode is True or self.master_job().batch_size == 0:
+            # save original process_images_inner for later so we can restore once we're done
+            logger.debug(f"bypassing local generation completely")
+            def process_images_inner_bypass(p) -> processing.Processed:
+                processed = processing.Processed(p, [], p.seed, info="")
+                processed.all_prompts = []
+                processed.all_seeds = []
+                processed.all_subseeds = []
+                processed.all_negative_prompts = []
+                processed.infotexts = []
+                processed.prompt = None
+
+                self.initial_payload.scripts.postprocess(p, processed)
+                return processed
+            processing.process_images_inner = process_images_inner_bypass
+
         # delete any jobs that have no work
         last = len(self.jobs) - 1
         while last > 0: