diff --git a/cloud.go b/cloud.go
index 6f601cf..aea5c19 100644
--- a/cloud.go
+++ b/cloud.go
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 package virtigolib
 
+// makes a Cluster interface which is:
+
+// a number of hypervisors (the physical machines)
+// a list of the virtual machines
+// functions to start, stop, etc virtual machines
+
+// virtual machines are often called droplets to make it easier to understand
+
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
@@ -30,6 +38,7 @@ type cloudAPI interface {
 }
 
 func NewCloud() *CloudManager {
+	// client := virtbuf.NewRealCloudAPIClient()
 	// clusterManager := NewCloudManager(myClient)
 	newCloudManager := &CloudManager{client: myClient}
 
@@ -45,6 +54,9 @@ func NewCloud() *CloudManager {
 
 // FindByName retrieves a cluster by name.
 func (m *CloudManager) FindDropletByName(name string) (*virtbuf.Droplet, error) {
+	if m.cluster == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
 	d := m.cluster.FindDropletByName(name)
 	return d, nil
 }