diff --git a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py b/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
index c18e63613..bfc543dec 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/books_manager.py
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ def get_or_create_book(remote_id):
 
     connector = get_or_create_connector(remote_id)
 
+    # raises ConnectorException
     book = connector.get_or_create_book(remote_id)
-    load_more_data.delay(book.id)
+    if book:
+        load_more_data.delay(book.id)
     return book
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
index b525f65f5..b5d93b473 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 ''' bring connectors into the namespace '''
 from .settings import CONNECTORS
+from .abstract_connector import ConnectorException
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 6d114387a..602c8d53e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ from django.db import transaction
 from bookwyrm import models
 
 
+class ConnectorException(Exception):
+    ''' when the connector can't do what was asked '''
+
+
 class AbstractConnector(ABC):
     ''' generic book data connector '''
 
@@ -128,6 +132,9 @@ class AbstractConnector(ABC):
             edition.author_text = work.author_text
             edition.save()
 
+        if not edition:
+            raise ConnectorException('Unable to create book: %s' % remote_id)
+
         return edition
 
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index fcfe387aa..d70ab3e23 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult, Mapping
+from .abstract_connector import ConnectorException
 from .abstract_connector import update_from_mappings
 from .abstract_connector import get_date, get_data
 from .openlibrary_languages import languages
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         try:
             key = data['key']
         except KeyError:
-            return False
+            raise ConnectorException('Invalid book data')
         url = '%s/%s/editions' % (self.books_url, key)
         data = get_data(url)
         return pick_default_edition(data['entries'])
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         try:
             key = data['works'][0]['key']
         except (IndexError, KeyError):
-            return False
+            raise ConnectorException('No work found for edition')
         url = '%s/%s' % (self.books_url, key)
         return get_data(url)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
index e13175973..2711bb1a2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -50,10 +50,6 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         )
 
 
-    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
-        ''' this COULD be semi-implemented but I think it shouldn't be used '''
-
-
     def is_work_data(self, data):
         pass
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index b2279bc97..9eb00e046 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from django.db import models
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import books_manager
+from bookwyrm.connectors import ConnectorException
 from bookwyrm.models import ReadThrough, User, Book
 from bookwyrm.utils.fields import JSONField
 
@@ -65,7 +66,11 @@ class ImportItem(models.Model):
         ''' search by isbn '''
         search_result = books_manager.first_search_result(self.isbn)
         if search_result:
-            return books_manager.get_or_create_book(search_result.key)
+            try:
+                # don't crash the import when the connector fails
+                return books_manager.get_or_create_book(search_result.key)
+            except ConnectorException:
+                pass
 
     def get_book_from_title_author(self):
         ''' search by title and author '''