diff --git a/gui/qt/main_window.py b/gui/qt/main_window.py
index 340a86cfd..996d508a1 100644
--- a/gui/qt/main_window.py
+++ b/gui/qt/main_window.py
@@ -184,13 +184,15 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.qr_window = None
         self.not_enough_funds = False
         self.pluginsdialog = None
-        self.fetch_alias_info()
+        self.fetch_alias()
 
-    def fetch_alias_info(self):
+    def fetch_alias(self):
         self.alias_info = None
         alias = str(self.config.get('alias'))
         if alias:
-            f = lambda: setattr(self, 'alias_info', self.contacts.resolve_openalias(alias))
+            def f():
+                self.alias_info = self.contacts.resolve_openalias(alias)
+                self.emit(SIGNAL('alias_received'))
             t = threading.Thread(target=f)
             t.setDaemon(True)
             t.start()
@@ -2533,12 +2535,25 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
                      + '\n'.join(['https://cryptoname.co/', 'http://xmr.link']) + '\n\n'\
                      + 'For more information, see http://openalias.org'
         alias_label = HelpLabel(_('Alias') + ':', alias_help)
-        alias_e = QLineEdit(self.config.get('alias',''))
-        def on_alias():
+        alias = self.config.get('alias','')
+        alias_e = QLineEdit(alias)
+        def set_alias_color():
+            if self.alias_info:
+                alias_addr, alias_name, validated = self.alias_info
+                alias_e.setStyleSheet(GREEN_BG if validated else RED_BG)
+            else:
+                alias_e.setStyleSheet(RED_BG)
+
+        def on_alias_edit():
+            alias_e.setStyleSheet("")
             alias = str(alias_e.text())
             self.config.set_key('alias', alias, True)
-            self.fetch_alias_info()
-        alias_e.editingFinished.connect(on_alias)
+            self.fetch_alias()
+
+        set_alias_color()
+        self.connect(self, SIGNAL('alias_received'), set_alias_color)
+        alias_e.editingFinished.connect(on_alias_edit)
+
         tx_widgets.append((alias_label, alias_e))
 
         units = ['BTC', 'mBTC', 'bits']
diff --git a/gui/qt/paytoedit.py b/gui/qt/paytoedit.py
index b874538dd..10101c0fa 100644
--- a/gui/qt/paytoedit.py
+++ b/gui/qt/paytoedit.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import re
 from decimal import Decimal
 from electrum import bitcoin
 
+import util
+
 RE_ADDRESS = '[1-9A-HJ-NP-Za-km-z]{26,}'
 RE_ALIAS = '(.*?)\s*\<([1-9A-HJ-NP-Za-km-z]{26,})\>'
 
@@ -64,10 +66,10 @@ class PayToEdit(ScanQRTextEdit):
             button.setHidden(b)
 
     def setGreen(self):
-        self.setStyleSheet("QWidget { background-color:#80ff80;}")
+        self.setStyleSheet(util.GREEN_BG)
 
     def setExpired(self):
-        self.setStyleSheet("QWidget { background-color:#ffcccc;}")
+        self.setStyleSheet(util.RED_BG)
 
     def parse_address_and_amount(self, line):
         x, y = line.split(',')
diff --git a/gui/qt/util.py b/gui/qt/util.py
index f7c064962..5e05278b0 100644
--- a/gui/qt/util.py
+++ b/gui/qt/util.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ else:
     MONOSPACE_FONT = 'monospace'
 
 
+GREEN_BG = "QWidget {background-color:#80ff80;}"
+RED_BG = "QWidget {background-color:#ffcccc;}"
+
+
 class WaitingDialog(QThread):
     def __init__(self, parent, message, run_task, on_success=None, on_complete=None):
         QThread.__init__(self)
diff --git a/lib/contacts.py b/lib/contacts.py
index da5105d17..e0bac9a43 100644
--- a/lib/contacts.py
+++ b/lib/contacts.py
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ class Contacts(StoreDict):
     def resolve_openalias(self, url):
         # support email-style addresses, per the OA standard
         url = url.replace('@', '.')
-        records, validated = dnssec.query(url, dns.rdatatype.TXT)
+        try:
+            records, validated = dnssec.query(url, dns.rdatatype.TXT)
+        except:
+            return
         prefix = 'btc'
         for record in records:
             string = record.strings[0]