diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
index 6b1d2f8c..10a633b2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from .abstract_connector import AbstractMinimalConnector, SearchResult
 class Connector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
     """this is basically just for search"""
 
-    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id, work=None):
+    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
         return activitypub.resolve_remote_id(remote_id, model=models.Edition)
 
     def parse_search_data(self, data):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
index 6b1b349f..a8f85834 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/self_connector.py
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         return search_results
 
     def format_search_result(self, search_result):
+        cover = None
+        if search_result.cover:
+            cover = "%s%s" % (self.covers_url, search_result.cover)
+
         return SearchResult(
             title=search_result.title,
             key=search_result.remote_id,
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
             if search_result.published_date
             else None,
             connector=self,
-            cover="%s%s" % (self.covers_url, search_result.cover),
+            cover=cover,
             confidence=search_result.rank if hasattr(search_result, "rank") else 1,
         )