diff --git a/activity.go b/activity.go
index 7ffc15a..36dae53 100644
--- a/activity.go
+++ b/activity.go
@@ -1060,28 +1060,28 @@ func isactor(t string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func investigate(name string) *Honker {
+func investigate(name string) (*Honker, error) {
 	if name == "" {
-		return nil
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no name")
 	}
 	if name[0] == '@' {
 		name = gofish(name)
 	}
 	if name == "" {
-		return nil
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no name")
 	}
 	log.Printf("digging up some info on %s", name)
 	obj, err := GetJunkFast(name)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("error investigating honker: %s", err)
-		return nil
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	t, _ := obj.GetString("type")
 	if !isactor(t) {
 		log.Printf("it's not a person! %s", name)
-		return nil
+		return nil, err
 	}
 	xid, _ := obj.GetString("id")
 	handle, _ := obj.GetString("preferredUsername")
-	return &Honker{XID: xid, Handle: handle}
+	return &Honker{XID: xid, Handle: handle}, nil
 }
diff --git a/fun.go b/fun.go
index 983d42c..6ffd696 100644
--- a/fun.go
+++ b/fun.go
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ func findhandle(xid string) string {
 	var handle string
 	err := row.Scan(&handle)
 	if err != nil {
-		p := investigate(xid)
+		p, _ := investigate(xid)
 		if p == nil {
 			m := re_unurl.FindStringSubmatch(xid)
 			if len(m) > 2 {
diff --git a/honk.go b/honk.go
index 4083da0..01e3fe3 100644
--- a/honk.go
+++ b/honk.go
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ func inbox(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 func ximport(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	xid := r.FormValue("xid")
-	p := investigate(xid)
+	p, _ := investigate(xid)
 	if p != nil {
 		xid = p.XID
 	}
@@ -1426,8 +1426,9 @@ func savehonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if peep == "peep" {
 		flavor = "peep"
 	}
-	p := investigate(url)
-	if p == nil {
+	p, err := investigate(url)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "error investigating: "+err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		log.Printf("failed to investigate honker")
 		return
 	}
@@ -1435,7 +1436,7 @@ func savehonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	if name == "" {
 		name = p.Handle
 	}
-	_, err := stmtSaveHonker.Exec(u.UserID, name, url, flavor, combos)
+	_, err = stmtSaveHonker.Exec(u.UserID, name, url, flavor, combos)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Print(err)
 		return