diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/core/module.py b/src/auto_archiver/core/module.py
index 3db861b..f620500 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/core/module.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/core/module.py
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ class LazyBaseModule:
         # finally, get the class instance
         instance: BaseModule = getattr(sys.modules[sub_qualname], class_name)()
 
+        # save the instance for future easy loading
+        self._instance = instance
+
         # set the name, display name and module factory
         instance.name = self.name
         instance.display_name = self.display_name
@@ -286,8 +289,6 @@ class LazyBaseModule:
         instance.config_setup(config)
         instance.setup()
 
-        # save the instance for future easy loading
-        self._instance = instance
         return instance
 
     def __repr__(self):
diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/core/orchestrator.py b/src/auto_archiver/core/orchestrator.py
index cbd1af5..b637878 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/core/orchestrator.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/core/orchestrator.py
@@ -387,8 +387,10 @@ Here's how that would look: \n\nsteps:\n  extractors:\n  - [your_extractor_name_
                 except (KeyboardInterrupt, Exception) as e:
                     if not isinstance(e, KeyboardInterrupt) and not isinstance(e, SetupError):
                         logger.error(f"Error during setup of modules: {e}\n{traceback.format_exc()}")
-                    if loaded_module and module_type == "extractor":
-                        loaded_module.cleanup()
+
+                    # access the _instance here because loaded_module may not return if there's an error
+                    if lazy_module._instance and module_type == "extractor":
+                        lazy_module._instance.cleanup()
                     raise e
 
                 if not loaded_module:
diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/core/validators.py b/src/auto_archiver/core/validators.py
index 765a02b..decd9f1 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/core/validators.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/core/validators.py
@@ -4,12 +4,6 @@ import argparse
 import json
 
 
-def example_validator(value):
-    if "example" not in value:
-        raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"{value} is not a valid value for this argument")
-    return value
-
-
 def positive_number(value):
     if value < 0:
         raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"{value} is not a positive number")
diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/__manifest__.py b/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/__manifest__.py
index 150b62c..e29a9b0 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/__manifest__.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/__manifest__.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
         },
         "session_file": {
             "default": "secrets/anon",
-            "help": "optional, records the telegram login session for future usage, '.session' will be appended to the provided value.",
+            "help": "Path of the file to save the telegram login session for future usage, '.session' will be appended to the provided path.",
         },
         "join_channels": {
             "default": True,
diff --git a/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/telethon_extractor.py b/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/telethon_extractor.py
index b06962e..73fb4e8 100644
--- a/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/telethon_extractor.py
+++ b/src/auto_archiver/modules/telethon_extractor/telethon_extractor.py
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
+import os
 import shutil
+import re
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+from datetime import date
+
 from telethon.sync import TelegramClient
 from telethon.errors import ChannelInvalidError
 from telethon.tl.functions.messages import ImportChatInviteRequest
@@ -8,11 +14,9 @@ from telethon.errors.rpcerrorlist import (
     InviteRequestSentError,
     InviteHashExpiredError,
 )
-from loguru import logger
+
 from tqdm import tqdm
-import re
-import time
-import os
+from loguru import logger
 
 from auto_archiver.core import Extractor
 from auto_archiver.core import Metadata, Media
@@ -31,10 +35,22 @@ class TelethonExtractor(Extractor):
         """
         logger.info(f"SETUP {self.name} checking login...")
 
+        # in case the user already added '.session' to the session_file
+        base_session_name = self.session_file.removesuffix(".session")
+        base_session_filepath = f"{base_session_name}.session"
+
+        if self.session_file and not os.path.exists(base_session_filepath):
+            logger.warning(
+                f"SETUP - Session file {base_session_filepath} does not exist for {self.name}, creating an empty one."
+            )
+            Path(base_session_filepath).touch()
+
         # make a copy of the session that is used exclusively with this archiver instance
-        new_session_file = os.path.join("secrets/", f"telethon-{time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')}{random_str(8)}.session")
-        shutil.copy(self.session_file + ".session", new_session_file)
-        self.session_file = new_session_file.replace(".session", "")
+        self.session_file = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(base_session_filepath), f"telethon-{date.today().strftime('%Y-%m-%d')}{random_str(8)}"
+        )
+        logger.debug(f"Making a copy of the session file {base_session_filepath} to {self.session_file}.session")
+        shutil.copy(base_session_filepath, f"{self.session_file}.session")
 
         # initiate the client
         self.client = TelegramClient(self.session_file, self.api_id, self.api_hash)
@@ -87,8 +103,8 @@ class TelethonExtractor(Extractor):
                     pbar.update()
 
     def cleanup(self) -> None:
-        logger.info(f"CLEANUP {self.name}.")
-        session_file_name = self.session_file + ".session"
+        logger.info(f"CLEANUP {self.name} - removing session file {self.session_file}.session")
+        session_file_name = f"{self.session_file}.session"
         if os.path.exists(session_file_name):
             os.remove(session_file_name)
 
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 44d8058..6377646 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -17,7 +17,24 @@ from auto_archiver.core.module import ModuleFactory
 # that you only want to run if everything else succeeds (e.g. API calls). The order here is important
 # what comes first will be run first (at the end of all other tests not mentioned)
 # format is the name of the module (python file) without the .py extension
-TESTS_TO_RUN_LAST = ["test_twitter_api_archiver"]
+TESTS_TO_RUN_LAST = ["test_generic_archiver", "test_twitter_api_archiver"]
+
+
+# don't check for ytdlp updates in tests
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def skip_check_for_update(mocker):
+    update_ytdlp = mocker.patch(
+        "auto_archiver.modules.generic_extractor.generic_extractor.GenericExtractor.update_ytdlp"
+    )
+    update_ytdlp.return_value = False
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def get_lazy_module():
+    def _get_lazy_module(module_name):
+        return ModuleFactory().get_module_lazy(module_name)
+
+    return _get_lazy_module
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -134,6 +151,7 @@ def unpickle():
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def mock_binary_dependencies(mocker):
+    mocker.patch("subprocess.run").return_value = mocker.Mock(returncode=0)
     mock_shutil_which = mocker.patch("shutil.which")
     # Mock all binary dependencies as available
     mock_shutil_which.return_value = "/usr/bin/fake_binary"
diff --git a/tests/data/test_modules/example_extractor/example_extractor.py b/tests/data/test_modules/example_extractor/example_extractor.py
index 1c63383..ade26e4 100644
--- a/tests/data/test_modules/example_extractor/example_extractor.py
+++ b/tests/data/test_modules/example_extractor/example_extractor.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 from auto_archiver.core import Extractor
 
+from loguru import logger
+
 
 class ExampleExtractor(Extractor):
     def download(self, item):
-        print("download")
+        logger.info("download")
+
+    def cleanup(self):
+        logger.info("cleanup")
diff --git a/tests/data/test_modules/example_module/example_module.py b/tests/data/test_modules/example_module/example_module.py
index 392abe0..898df96 100644
--- a/tests/data/test_modules/example_module/example_module.py
+++ b/tests/data/test_modules/example_module/example_module.py
@@ -1,27 +1,29 @@
 from auto_archiver.core import Extractor, Enricher, Feeder, Database, Storage, Formatter, Metadata
 
+from loguru import logger
+
 
 class ExampleModule(Extractor, Enricher, Feeder, Database, Storage, Formatter):
     def download(self, item):
-        print("download")
+        logger.info("download")
 
     def __iter__(self):
         yield Metadata().set_url("https://example.com")
 
     def done(self, result):
-        print("done")
+        logger.info("done")
 
     def enrich(self, to_enrich):
-        print("enrich")
+        logger.info("enrich")
 
     def get_cdn_url(self, media):
         return "nice_url"
 
     def save(self, item):
-        print("save")
+        logger.info("save")
 
     def uploadf(self, file, key, **kwargs):
-        print("uploadf")
+        logger.info("uploadf")
 
     def format(self, item):
-        print("format")
+        logger.info("format")
diff --git a/tests/extractors/test_generic_extractor.py b/tests/extractors/test_generic_extractor.py
index 85a0364..2fb5c35 100644
--- a/tests/extractors/test_generic_extractor.py
+++ b/tests/extractors/test_generic_extractor.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class TestGenericExtractor(TestExtractorBase):
         package = "auto_archiver.modules.generic_extractor"
         assert self.extractor.dropin_for_name("bluesky", package=package)
 
-        # test loading dropings via filepath
+        # test loading dropins via filepath
         path = os.path.join(dirname(dirname(__file__)), "data/")
         assert self.extractor.dropin_for_name("dropin", additional_paths=[path])
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class TestGenericExtractor(TestExtractorBase):
             == "Buy NEW Keyboard Cat Merch! https://keyboardcat.creator-spring.com\n\nxo Keyboard Cat memes make your day better!\nhttp://www.keyboardcatstore.com/\nhttps://www.facebook.com/thekeyboardcat\nhttp://www.charlieschmidt.com/"
         )
         assert len(result.media) == 2
-        assert Path(result.media[0].filename).name == "J---aiyznGQ.webm"
+        assert "J---aiyznGQ" in Path(result.media[0].filename).name
         assert Path(result.media[1].filename).name == "hqdefault.jpg"
 
     @pytest.mark.download
diff --git a/tests/extractors/test_telethon_extractor.py b/tests/extractors/test_telethon_extractor.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a2d5c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/extractors/test_telethon_extractor.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import os
+from datetime import date
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def mock_client_setup(mocker):
+    mocker.patch("telethon.client.auth.AuthMethods.start")
+
+
+def test_setup_fails_clear_session_file(get_lazy_module, tmp_path, mocker):
+    start = mocker.patch("telethon.client.auth.AuthMethods.start")
+    start.side_effect = Exception("Test exception")
+
+    # make sure the default setup file is created
+    session_file = tmp_path / "test.session"
+
+    lazy_module = get_lazy_module("telethon_extractor")
+
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        lazy_module.load({"telethon_extractor": {"session_file": str(session_file), "api_id": 123, "api_hash": "ABC"}})
+
+    assert session_file.exists()
+    assert f"telethon-{date.today().strftime('%Y-%m-%d')}" in lazy_module._instance.session_file
+    assert os.path.exists(lazy_module._instance.session_file + ".session")
diff --git a/tests/test_orchestrator.py b/tests/test_orchestrator.py
index 3367ce0..86e3125 100644
--- a/tests/test_orchestrator.py
+++ b/tests/test_orchestrator.py
@@ -237,3 +237,23 @@ def test_wrong_step_type(test_args, caplog):
     with pytest.raises(SetupError) as err:
         orchestrator.setup(args)
         assert "Module 'example_extractor' is not a feeder" in str(err.value)
+
+
+def test_load_failed_extractor_cleanup(test_args, mocker, caplog):
+    orchestrator = ArchivingOrchestrator()
+
+    # hack to set up the paths so we can patch properly
+    orchestrator.module_factory.setup_paths([TEST_MODULES])
+
+    # patch example_module.setup to throw an exception
+    mocker.patch(
+        "auto_archiver.modules.example_extractor.example_extractor.ExampleExtractor.setup",
+        side_effect=Exception("Test exception"),
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        orchestrator.setup(test_args + ["--extractors", "example_extractor"])
+
+    assert "Error during setup of modules: Test exception" in caplog.text
+    # make sure the 'cleanup' is called
+    assert "cleanup" in caplog.text