[AccessD] SQL Server not found

Hello all:

I have an Access front end with a SQL Server express back end.  Occasionally
the SQL Server isn't available.  I'd like the Access db to exit quickly and
gracefully when this happens.  However, it takes about two minutes for the
initial query to SQL server to fail and it fails with a screen asking the
user to fill in the Server name.  Is there a quick way to find out if the
server is available before I try to query it and to avoid getting the
failure screens?

Thanks,
Doug Steele