diff --git a/astria/mempool/reaper.go b/astria/mempool/reaper.go
index 307bcf04b..20e553fb9 100644
--- a/astria/mempool/reaper.go
+++ b/astria/mempool/reaper.go
@@ -53,7 +53,13 @@ func (mr *MempoolReaper) Reap() {
 					// submit to shared sequencer
 					err := mr.c.SendMessageViaComposer(mempoolTx.Tx())
 					if err != nil {
-						mr.logger.Error("error sending message: %s\n", err)
+						mr.logger.Info("error sending message via composer, trying directly: %s\n", err)
+
+						res, err := mr.c.BroadcastTx(mempoolTx.Tx())
+						if err != nil {
+							mr.logger.Error("error sending message: %s\n", err)
+						}
+						mr.logger.Debug("tx response", "log", res.Log)
 						return
 					}
 					mr.logger.Debug("succesfully sent transaction to composer")