diff --git a/multinut/stultus.py b/multinut/stultus.py
index 162322a..bdf039e 100644
--- a/multinut/stultus.py
+++ b/multinut/stultus.py
@@ -1,37 +1,32 @@
-# multinut/stultus.py
-
 import requests
 
 BASE_URL = "https://stultus.chipperfluff.at"
 
+class StultusUnavailable(Exception):
+    """Raised when the stultus server is unreachable or returns an error."""
+    pass
+
 def _get(path: str, params: dict | list = None) -> bool:
     try:
         r = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/{path}", params=params, timeout=5)
         r.raise_for_status()
         return r.json().get("result", False)
     except Exception as e:
-        raise RuntimeError(f"[STULTUS] Failed logic call to '{path}': {e}")
+        raise StultusUnavailable(f"[STULTUS] Failed logic call to '{path}': {e}")
 
-def EQUALS(a, b):
-    return _get("equals", {"a": a, "b": b})
+def ping() -> bool:
+    try:
+        r = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/ping", timeout=2)
+        return r.status_code == 200 and r.json().get("status") == "ok"
+    except Exception:
+        return False
 
-def GREATER(a, b):
-    return _get("greater", {"a": a, "b": b})
+def EQUALS(a, b): return _get("equals", {"a": a, "b": b})
+def GREATER(a, b): return _get("greater", {"a": a, "b": b})
+def LESSER(a, b): return _get("lesser", {"a": a, "b": b})
+def NOT(x): return _get("not", {"val": str(x).lower()})
+def AND(*args): return _get("and", [("val", str(v).lower()) for v in args])
+def OR(*args): return _get("or", [("val", str(v).lower()) for v in args])
 
-def LESSER(a, b):
-    return _get("lesser", {"a": a, "b": b})
-
-def AND(*args):
-    return _get("and", [("val", str(v).lower()) for v in args])
-
-def OR(*args):
-    return _get("or", [("val", str(v).lower()) for v in args])
-
-def NOT(x):
-    return _get("not", {"val": str(x).lower()})
-
-def GREATER_EQUAL(a, b):
-    return OR(GREATER(a, b), EQUALS(a, b))
-
-def LESSER_EQUAL(a, b):
-    return OR(LESSER(a, b), EQUALS(a, b))
+def GREATER_EQUAL(a, b): return OR(GREATER(a, b), EQUALS(a, b))
+def LESSER_EQUAL(a, b): return OR(LESSER(a, b), EQUALS(a, b))