diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
index c3a0b652a..00cab7559 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
@@ -35,13 +35,14 @@ def start_export_task(**kwargs):
     # don't start the job if it was stopped from the UI
     if job.complete:
         return
-
-    # This is where ChildJobs get made
-    job.export_data = ContentFile(b"", str(uuid4()))
-
-    json_data = json_export(job.user)
-    tar_export(json_data, job.user, job.export_data)
-
+    try:
+        # This is where ChildJobs get made
+        job.export_data = ContentFile(b"", str(uuid4()))
+        json_data = json_export(job.user)
+        tar_export(json_data, job.user, job.export_data)
+    except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        logger.exception("Job %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
+        job.set_status("failed")
     job.save(update_fields=["export_data"])
 
 
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ def tar_export(json_data: str, user, f):
 
         editions, books = get_books_for_user(user)
         for book in editions:
-            tar.add_image(book.cover)
+            if getattr(book, "cover", False):
+                tar.add_image(book.cover)
 
     f.close()
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/job.py b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
index 6e8d0dc5c..7557c5855 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class Job(models.Model):
         ACTIVE = "active", _("Active")
         COMPLETE = "complete", _("Complete")
         STOPPED = "stopped", _("Stopped")
+        FAILED = "failed", _("Failed")
 
     task_id = models.UUIDField(unique=True, null=True, blank=True)
 
@@ -43,14 +44,17 @@ class Job(models.Model):
 
         self.save(update_fields=["status", "complete", "updated_date"])
 
-    def stop_job(self):
+    def stop_job(self, reason=None):
         """Stop the job"""
         if self.complete:
             return
 
         self.__terminate_job()
 
-        self.status = self.Status.STOPPED
+        if reason and reason is "failed":
+            self.status = self.Status.FAILED
+        else:
+            self.status = self.Status.STOPPED
         self.complete = True
         self.updated_date = timezone.now()
 
@@ -72,6 +76,10 @@ class Job(models.Model):
             self.stop_job()
             return
 
+        if status == self.Status.FAILED:
+            self.stop_job(reason="failed")
+            return
+
         self.updated_date = timezone.now()
         self.status = status
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/export-user.html b/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/export-user.html
index 393d8990e..2dd3f6de3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/export-user.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/preferences/export-user.html
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@
             {% for job in jobs %}
             <tr>
                 <td>
-                    {% if job.complete %}
-                    <p><a href="/preferences/user-export/{{ job.task_id }}">{{ job.created_date }}</a></p>
+                    {% if job.complete and not job.status == "stopped" and not job.status == "failed" %}
+                    <p><a download="" href="/preferences/user-export/{{ job.task_id }}">{{ job.created_date }}</a></p>
                     {% else %}
                     <p>{{ job.created_date }}</p>
                     {% endif %}
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
                 <td>{{ job.updated_date }}</td>
                 <td>
                     <span
-                        {% if job.status == "stopped" %}
+                        {% if job.status == "stopped" or job.status == "failed" %}
                         class="tag is-danger"
                         {% elif job.status == "pending" %}
                         class="tag is-warning"