diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9b9a703..59a1159 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -39,19 +39,17 @@ prerequisites:
 ifdef DEPLOY_CLEANUP
 cleanup:
 	@- echo "\n### cleanup ..."
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		scp cleanup.sh $(SSH_USER)@$(host):/$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); \
-		if [ -e cleanup.sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh cleanup.sh $(host)"; fi; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh cleanup.sh $(host)"; \
 	)
 endif
 
 prepare:
 	@- echo "\n### preparing ..."
 	@- chmod 600 secrets.mk
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH); if [ ! -d $(DEPLOY_NAME) ] ; then mkdir $(DEPLOY_NAME); fi"; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH); mkdir $(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
 	)
 	
 build:
@@ -73,28 +71,23 @@ endif
 pre-deploy:
 ifdef DEPLOY_HOSTS
 	@- echo "\n### running pre-deploy script(s)"
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		if [ -e pre-deploy.sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh pre-deploy.sh $(host)"; fi; \
-		if [ -e pre-deploy_$(host).sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh pre-deploy_$(host).sh"; fi; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh pre-deploy.sh $(host); sh pre-deploy_$(host).sh"; \
 	)
 endif
 
 post-deploy:
 ifdef DEPLOY_HOSTS
 	@- echo "\n### running post-deploy script(s)"
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		if [ -e post-deploy.sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh post-deploy.sh $(host)"; fi; \
-		if [ -e post-deploy_$(host).sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh post-deploy_$(host).sh"; fi; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh post-deploy.sh $(host); sh post-deploy_$(host).sh"; \
 	)
 endif
 
 pre-local:
 ifneq (,$(wildcard pre-local.sh))
 	@- echo "\n### running pre-local script"
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		./pre-local.sh $(host); \
 	)
 else
@@ -104,8 +97,7 @@ endif
 post-local:
 ifneq (,$(wildcard post-local.sh))
 	@- echo "\n### running post-local script"
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		./post-local.sh $(host); \
 	)
 else
@@ -115,17 +107,16 @@ endif
 upload:
 ifdef DEPLOY_HOSTS
 	@- echo "\n### uploading files"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "if [ ! -d $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME) ]; then mkdir -p $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); fi"; \
-		if [ -r .rsync ] ; then rsync_xtra=`cat .rsync`; fi; \
-		if [ -r .rsync_$(host) ] ; then rsync_xtra_host=`cat .rsync_$(host)`; fi; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "mkdir -p $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
+		rsync_xtra=`cat .rsync`; \
+		rsync_xtra_host=`cat .rsync_$(host)`; \
 		param="-ravv"; \
 		param="$$param $$rsync_xtra"; \
 		param="$$param $$rsync_xtra_host"; \
 		param="$$param --exclude '*~' --exclude '.git*' --exclude '*.swp' . $(SSH_USER)@$(host):$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
 		eval rsync $$param; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); if [ -e .env ]; then chmod o-r .env ; fi; if [ -e secrets.mk ]; then chmod o-r secrets.mk; fi; if [ -e secrets.yaml ]; then chmod o-r secrets.yaml; fi"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME) && chmod o-r .env secrets*"; \
 	)
 endif
 
@@ -152,9 +143,9 @@ restart: restart-$(DEPLOY_TYPE)
 reload:
 ifneq (,$(wildcard reload.sh))
 	@- echo "\n### reloading ..."
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "### reloading service on $(host)"; \
-		if [ -e reload.sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); ./reload.sh"; fi; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); ./reload.sh"; \
 	)
 else
 	@- echo "\n### no reload script found"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dc64d02..c9b816d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,15 +2,13 @@
 
 A simple Makefile based deployment system.
 
-**make-deploy** was initially hosted at https://git.dnix.de/an/make-deploy. Since it has become heavily used at chefkoch.de for system deployments, and lots of code is committed there, we moved the repo to https://git.chefkoch.net/pub/make-deploy. A mirror still exists at https://git.dnix.de/mirror/make-deploy.
-
 **make-deploy** is licensed under the terms of the MIT-License. See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for info.
 
 ## Installation
 
 1. Clone **make-deploy** as a submodule into your repository:
 
-    $ git submodule add https://git.chefkoch.net/pub/make-deploy
+    $ git submodule add https://git.dnix.de/dnix/make-deploy
     
 2. Create a symlink to the Makefile:
 
diff --git a/apt.mk b/apt.mk
index cbec207..0741f74 100644
--- a/apt.mk
+++ b/apt.mk
@@ -5,11 +5,8 @@ pull-apt:
 
 start-apt:
 	@- echo "\n### start"
-	@ $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		set -e; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "sudo apt install -y $(APT_PACKAGES)"; \
-		if [ -e start.sh ]; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "sh start.sh"; fi; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "sudo apt install -y $(APT_PACKAGES); sh start.sh"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
diff --git a/compose-file.mk b/compose-file.mk
index 26a889c..37a98d1 100644
--- a/compose-file.mk
+++ b/compose-file.mk
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
 endif
 
 pull-compose-file:
-	@ echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		if test "$(DOCKER_LOGIN)" -eq 1 ; \
+	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
+		if test $(DOCKER_LOGIN) -eq 1 ; \
 		then \
-			echo "\n#### perform docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
-			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "echo $(DOCKER_PASS) | docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) --password-stdin $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
+			echo "\n#### perfom docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
+			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
 		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
 		then \
@@ -20,33 +20,27 @@ pull-compose-file:
 	)
 
 start-compose-file:
-	@ echo "\n### starting service(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- echo "\n### starting service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose -f $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE) -p $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT) up -d"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 
 stop-compose-file:
-	@echo "\n### stopping service(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- echo "\n### stopping service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose -f $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE) -p $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT) down"; \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 		
 logs-compose-file:
-	@ echo "\n### logs"
-	@ ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose -f $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE) -p $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT) logs -f $(service)"
+	@- echo "\n### logs"
+	@- ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose -f $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE) -p $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT) logs -f $(service)"
 	
 restart-compose-file:
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker-compose -f $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE) -p $(DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT) restart"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
diff --git a/compose.mk b/compose.mk
index 0142d3f..2854b72 100644
--- a/compose.mk
+++ b/compose.mk
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
 endif
 
 pull-compose:
-	@echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		if test "$(DOCKER_LOGIN)" -eq 1 ; \
+	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
+		if test "$(DOCKER_LOGIN)" = "1" ; \
 		then \
 			echo "\n#### perform docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
-			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "echo $(DOCKER_PASS) | docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) --password-stdin $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
+			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
 		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
 		then \
@@ -22,30 +22,24 @@ pull-compose:
 	)
 
 start-compose:
-	@echo "\n### starting service(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- echo "\n### starting service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose up -d"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 
 logs-compose:
-	@echo "\n### logs"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- echo "\n### logs"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose logs -f $(service)"; \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 
 restart-compose:
-	@echo "\n### restarting service(s)"
-	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		set -e; \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
+	@- echo "\n### restarting service(s)"
+	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose restart"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
diff --git a/cron.mk b/cron.mk
index 4296a07..ad5a78d 100644
--- a/cron.mk
+++ b/cron.mk
@@ -4,19 +4,15 @@ start-cron:
 	@- echo "\n### starting..."
 	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		set -e; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "sudo -u $(CRON_USER) sh -c 'crontab -l | sed \"/^#make-deploy-cron:$(DEPLOY_NAME)/,+1 d\" | { cat; echo \"#make-deploy-cron:$(DEPLOY_NAME)\"; cat \"$(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME)/crontab\"; } | crontab -'"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 	
 stop-cron:
 	@- echo "\n### stopping ..."
 	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		set -e; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "sudo -u $(CRON_USER) sh -c 'crontab -l | sed \"/^#make-deploy-cron:$(DEPLOY_NAME)/,+1 d\" | crontab -'"; \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 
 pull-cron:
diff --git a/k8s.mk b/k8s.mk
index e5e8f02..b439929 100644
--- a/k8s.mk
+++ b/k8s.mk
@@ -4,19 +4,14 @@
 
 MANDATORY = $(shell printenv MANDATORY) K8S_CONTEXT
 K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME ?= kubernetes.yaml
-ifneq ("$(wildcard secrets.yaml)","")
-  SECRETS="secrets.yaml"
-else
-  SECRETS=""
-endif
 
 start-k8s:
 	@- echo "\n### starting deployment with k8s"
 	@- echo "\n### setting kubernetes context to $(K8S_CONTEXT)"
 	@ kubectl config use-context $(K8S_CONTEXT)
 
-	@- echo "\n### run kubectl apply -f $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) and if available secrets file $(SECRETS)"
-	@ cat $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) $(SECRETS) | envsubst | kubectl apply $(K8S_ADDITIONAL_PARAMS) -f -
+	@- echo "\n### run kubectl apply -f $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) and secrets.yaml"
+	@ cat $(K8S_MANIFEST_FILENAME) secrets.yaml | envsubst | kubectl apply $(K8S_ADDITIONAL_PARAMS) -f -
 
 pull-k8s:
 # nop
diff --git a/simple.mk b/simple.mk
index 908e4ce..8210118 100644
--- a/simple.mk
+++ b/simple.mk
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # this just rsyncs the stuff to the remote server(s) and runs
 # build.sh, pre-/post-deploy, pre-/post-local, start.sh, etc.
 
-ifndef DEPLOY_START_DELAY
+ifndef DEPLOY_StART_DELAY
 DEPLOY_START_DELAY = 0
 endif
 
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ pull-simple:
 start-simple:
 	@- echo "\n### start"
 	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
-		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		set -e; \
-		if [ -e start.sh ] ; then ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh start.sh"; fi; \
+		echo "$(host)"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); sh start.sh"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
-		set +e; \
 	)
diff --git a/swarm.mk b/swarm.mk
index dd4461d..45f67b8 100644
--- a/swarm.mk
+++ b/swarm.mk
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ start-swarm:
 	@- echo "\n### starting service(s)"
 	@- $(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		echo "$(host)"; \
-		set -e; \
 		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(DEPLOY_PATH)/$(DEPLOY_NAME); docker stack deploy -c stack.yml $(DEPLOY_NAME)"; \
-		set +e; \
 	)
 
 stop-swarm: