diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/__init__.py
index b525f65f..b5d93b47 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 e9c25f8e..387b994f 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 '''
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index d74735d2..ce1ca747 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import requests
 from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
 
 from bookwyrm import models
-from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, SearchResult, Mapping
+from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, ConnectorException, SearchResult, Mapping
 from .abstract_connector import update_from_mappings
 from .abstract_connector import get_date, get_data
 from .openlibrary_languages import languages
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ 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 +90,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
         try:
             key = data['works'][0]['key']
         except (IndexError, KeyError):
-            return False
+            raise ConnectorException('No work found foredition')
         url = '%s/%s' % (self.books_url, key)
         return get_data(url)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/import_job.py
index b2279bc9..9eb00e04 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 '''