diff --git a/app/Livewire/Onboarding.php b/app/Livewire/Onboarding.php
index f6ab9de..2c738c8 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/Onboarding.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/Onboarding.php
@@ -183,13 +183,22 @@ public function createPlatformAccount(): void
 
             $this->nextStep();
         } catch (\App\Exceptions\PlatformAuthException $e) {
-            if (str_contains($e->getMessage(), 'Rate limited by')) {
-                $this->formErrors['general'] = $e->getMessage();
+            $message = $e->getMessage();
+            if (str_contains($message, 'Rate limited by')) {
+                $this->formErrors['general'] = $message;
+            } elseif (str_contains($message, 'Connection failed')) {
+                $this->formErrors['general'] = 'Unable to connect to the Lemmy instance. Please check the URL and try again.';
             } else {
                 $this->formErrors['general'] = 'Invalid username or password. Please check your credentials and try again.';
             }
         } catch (\Exception $e) {
-            $this->formErrors['general'] = 'Unable to connect to the Lemmy instance. Please check the URL and try again.';
+            logger()->error('Lemmy platform account creation failed', [
+                'instance_url' => $fullInstanceUrl,
+                'username' => $this->username,
+                'error' => $e->getMessage(),
+                'class' => get_class($e),
+            ]);
+            $this->formErrors['general'] = 'An error occurred while setting up your account. Please try again.';
         } finally {
             $this->isLoading = false;
         }
diff --git a/app/Modules/Lemmy/Services/LemmyApiService.php b/app/Modules/Lemmy/Services/LemmyApiService.php
index 3329703..d0ebb55 100644
--- a/app/Modules/Lemmy/Services/LemmyApiService.php
+++ b/app/Modules/Lemmy/Services/LemmyApiService.php
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ public function login(string $username, string $password): ?string
                 $data = $response->json();
                 return $data['jwt'] ?? null;
             } catch (Exception $e) {
+                // Re-throw rate limit exceptions immediately
+                if (str_contains($e->getMessage(), 'Rate limited')) {
+                    throw $e;
+                }
+
                 logger()->error('Lemmy login exception', ['error' => $e->getMessage(), 'scheme' => $scheme]);
                 // If this was the first attempt and HTTPS, try HTTP next
                 if ($idx === 0 && in_array('http', $schemesToTry, true)) {
diff --git a/database/migrations/2024_01_01_000003_create_platforms.php b/database/migrations/2024_01_01_000003_create_platforms.php
index 9a074a9..9b7f7af 100644
--- a/database/migrations/2024_01_01_000003_create_platforms.php
+++ b/database/migrations/2024_01_01_000003_create_platforms.php
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public function up(): void
             $table->enum('platform', ['lemmy']);
             $table->string('instance_url');
             $table->string('username');
-            $table->string('password');
+            $table->text('password');
             $table->json('settings')->nullable();
             $table->boolean('is_active')->default(false);
             $table->timestamp('last_tested_at')->nullable();