diff --git a/src/snn_utils.jl b/src/snn_utils.jl
index 2b7b2c8..063854a 100644
--- a/src/snn_utils.jl
+++ b/src/snn_utils.jl
@@ -422,18 +422,22 @@ function neuroplasticity!(n::outputNeuron, firedNeurons::Vector,
     # add new synaptic connection to neuron
     for (i, connIndex) in enumerate(zeroWeightConnIndex)
         newConn::Int64 = 0
-        try
+        if length(nFiredPool) != 0
             newConn = popfirst!(nFiredPool)
-        catch
+        elseif length(nNonFiredPool) != 0
             newConn = popfirst!(nNonFiredPool)
+        else
+            # skip
         end
 
-        """ conn that is being replaced has to go into nNonFiredPool so nNonFiredPool isn't empty
-        """
-        push!(nNonFiredPool, n.subscriptionList[connIndex])
-        n.subscriptionList[connIndex] = newConn
-        n.wRec[connIndex] = w[i] * nExInTypeList[newConn]
-        n.synapticStrength[connIndex] = synapticStrength[i]
+        if newConn != 0
+            """ conn that is being replaced has to go into nNonFiredPool so nNonFiredPool isn't empty
+            """
+            push!(nNonFiredPool, n.subscriptionList[connIndex])
+            n.subscriptionList[connIndex] = newConn
+            n.wRec[connIndex] = w[i] * nExInTypeList[newConn]
+            n.synapticStrength[connIndex] = synapticStrength[i]
+        end
     end
 end