diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 00b5c5c9..2483cc62 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -179,7 +179,11 @@ class AbstractConnector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
         data = get_data(remote_id)
 
         mapped_data = dict_from_mappings(data, self.author_mappings)
-        activity = activitypub.Author(**mapped_data)
+        try:
+            activity = activitypub.Author(**mapped_data)
+        except activitypub.ActivitySerializerError:
+            return None
+
         # this will dedupe
         return activity.to_model(model=models.Author)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index 9be0266c..8ee738eb 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
             # this id is "/authors/OL1234567A"
             author_id = author_blob["key"]
             url = "%s%s" % (self.base_url, author_id)
-            yield self.get_or_create_author(url)
+            author = self.get_or_create_author(url)
+            if not author:
+                continue
+            yield author
 
     def get_cover_url(self, cover_blob, size="L"):
         """ ask openlibrary for the cover """