diff --git a/source/api/Items.brs b/source/api/Items.brs
index 40e40957..61af42e9 100644
--- a/source/api/Items.brs
+++ b/source/api/Items.brs
@@ -397,11 +397,13 @@ function BackdropImage(id as string)
 end function
 
 ' Seasons for a TV Show
-function TVSeasons(id as string)
+function TVSeasons(id as string) as dynamic
     url = Substitute("Shows/{0}/Seasons", id)
     resp = APIRequest(url, { "UserId": get_setting("active_user") })
-
     data = getJson(resp)
+    ' validate data
+    if data = invalid or data.Items = invalid then return invalid
+
     results = []
     for each item in data.Items
         imgParams = { "AddPlayedIndicator": item.UserData.Played }
@@ -414,11 +416,14 @@ function TVSeasons(id as string)
     return data
 end function
 
-function TVEpisodes(show_id as string, season_id as string)
+function TVEpisodes(show_id as string, season_id as string) as dynamic
     url = Substitute("Shows/{0}/Episodes", show_id)
     resp = APIRequest(url, { "seasonId": season_id, "UserId": get_setting("active_user"), "fields": "MediaStreams" })
 
     data = getJson(resp)
+    ' validate data
+    if data = invalid or data.Items = invalid then return invalid
+
     results = []
     for each item in data.Items
         imgParams = { "maxWidth": 400, "maxheight": 250 }
@@ -428,7 +433,11 @@ function TVEpisodes(show_id as string, season_id as string)
             tmp.image.posterDisplayMode = "scaleToZoom"
         end if
         tmp.json = item
-        tmp.overview = ItemMetaData(item.id).overview
+        tmpMetaData = ItemMetaData(item.id)
+        ' validate meta data
+        if tmpMetaData <> invalid and tmpMetaData.overview <> invalid
+            tmp.overview = tmpMetaData.overview
+        end if
         results.push(tmp)
     end for
     data.Items = results
diff --git a/source/api/baserequest.brs b/source/api/baserequest.brs
index 1253f762..6d00f36b 100644
--- a/source/api/baserequest.brs
+++ b/source/api/baserequest.brs
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ function buildParams(params = {} as object) as string
     return param_array.join("&")
 end function
 
-function buildURL(path as string, params = {} as object) as string
+function buildURL(path as string, params = {} as object) as dynamic
+    serverURL = get_url()
+    if serverURL = invalid then return invalid
 
     ' Add intial '/' if path does not start with one
     if path.Left(1) = "/"
-        full_url = get_url() + path
+        full_url = serverURL + path
     else
-        full_url = get_url() + "/" + path
+        full_url = serverURL + "/" + path
     end if
 
     if params.count() > 0
@@ -51,17 +53,19 @@ function buildURL(path as string, params = {} as object) as string
     return full_url
 end function
 
-function APIRequest(url as string, params = {} as object)
+function APIRequest(url as string, params = {} as object) as dynamic
+    full_url = buildURL(url, params)
+    if full_url = invalid then return invalid
+
     req = createObject("roUrlTransfer")
+    req.setUrl(full_url)
+    req = authorize_request(req)
+    ' SSL cert
     serverURL = get_setting("server")
     if serverURL <> invalid and serverURL.left(8) = "https://"
         req.setCertificatesFile("common:/certs/ca-bundle.crt")
     end if
 
-    full_url = buildURL(url, params)
-    req.setUrl(full_url)
-    req = authorize_request(req)
-
     return req
 end function
 
@@ -119,18 +123,18 @@ function deleteVoid(req)
 end function
 
 function get_url()
-    base = get_setting("server")
-    if base <> invalid
-        if base.right(1) = "/"
-            base = base.left(base.len() - 1)
-        end if
+    serverURL = get_setting("server")
+    if serverURL = invalid then return invalid
 
-        ' append http:// to the start if not specified
-        if base.left(7) <> "http://" and base.left(8) <> "https://"
-            base = "http://" + base
-        end if
+    if serverURL.right(1) = "/"
+        serverURL = serverURL.left(serverURL.len() - 1)
     end if
-    return base
+
+    ' append http:// to the start if not specified
+    if serverURL.left(7) <> "http://" and serverURL.left(8) <> "https://"
+        serverURL = "http://" + serverURL
+    end if
+    return serverURL
 end function
 
 function authorize_request(request)
diff --git a/source/utils/Subtitles.brs b/source/utils/Subtitles.brs
index 13126df2..ba9a41a0 100644
--- a/source/utils/Subtitles.brs
+++ b/source/utils/Subtitles.brs
@@ -84,17 +84,18 @@ function setupSubtitle(video, subtitles, subtitle_idx = -1) as integer
 
     selectedSubtitle = subtitles[subtitleSelIdx]
 
-    if selectedSubtitle.IsEncoded
-        ' With encoded subtitles, turn off captions
-        video.globalCaptionMode = "Off"
-    else
-        ' If this is a text-based subtitle, set relevant settings for roku captions
-        video.globalCaptionMode = "On"
-        video.subtitleTrack = video.availableSubtitleTracks[availSubtitleTrackIdx(video, subtitleSelIdx)].TrackName
+    if isValid(selectedSubtitle) and isValid(selectedSubtitle.IsEncoded)
+        if selectedSubtitle.IsEncoded
+            ' With encoded subtitles, turn off captions
+            video.globalCaptionMode = "Off"
+        else
+            ' If this is a text-based subtitle, set relevant settings for roku captions
+            video.globalCaptionMode = "On"
+            video.subtitleTrack = video.availableSubtitleTracks[availSubtitleTrackIdx(video, subtitleSelIdx)].TrackName
+        end if
     end if
 
     return subtitleSelIdx
-
 end function
 
 ' The subtitle index on the server differs from the index we track locally