diff --git a/hugvey/central_command.py b/hugvey/central_command.py
index ead87b0..5225d83 100644
--- a/hugvey/central_command.py
+++ b/hugvey/central_command.py
@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ class CentralCommand(object):
             status['time_since_hugvey_spoke'] = '-'
             status['time_since_visitor_spoke'] = '-'
         else:
-            if not hv.story.lastMsgStartTime:
+            if not hasattr(hv.story, 'lastMsgStartTime') or not hv.story.lastMsgStartTime:
                 status['time_since_hugvey_spoke'] = '?'
-            elif not hv.story.lastMsgFinishTime: 
+            elif not hasattr(hv.story, 'lastMsgFinishTime') or not hv.story.lastMsgFinishTime: 
                 status['time_since_hugvey_spoke'] = 'speaking'
             else:
                 status['time_since_hugvey_spoke'] = str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=int(hv.story.timer.getElapsed() - hv.story.lastMsgFinishTime)))
diff --git a/hugvey/story.py b/hugvey/story.py
index 2561e17..c8abc29 100644
--- a/hugvey/story.py
+++ b/hugvey/story.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class Message(object):
         self.color = None
         self.lightChange = None
         self.didRepeat = False
+        self.fileError = False
         
         # Used by diversions, autogenerated directions should link to next chapter mark instead of the given msgTo
         self.generatedDirectionsJumpToChapter = False
@@ -216,14 +217,17 @@ class Message(object):
             await s.send_json(info)
             filename = await s.recv_string()
             s.close()
-
+            
+            # TODO: should this go trough the event Queue? risking a too long delay though 
+            if filename == 'local/crash.wav' or len(filename) < 1:
+                self.logger.warning("Noting crash")
+                self.fileError = True
 
 #         print(threading.enumerate())
 
         self.logger.debug(f"Fetched audio for {text}: {filename}")
         return filename
-
-
+    
 
 class Reply(object):
     def __init__(self, message: Message):
@@ -334,6 +338,8 @@ class Condition(object):
             condition.method = condition._hasVariable
         if data['type'] == "diversion":
             condition.method = condition._hasDiverged
+        if data['type'] == "audioError":
+            condition.method = condition._hasAudioError
         if data['type'] == "messagePlayed":
             condition.method = condition._hasPlayed
         if data['type'] == "variableEquals":
@@ -464,6 +470,14 @@ class Condition(object):
 
         return r
     
+    def _hasAudioError(self, story) -> bool:
+        if not story.currentMessage or not story.currentMessage.fileError:
+            return False
+        
+        self.logInfo = f"Has error loading audio file for {story.currentMessage.id}"
+        
+        return True
+    
     def _hasPlayed(self, story) -> bool:
         if not story.lastMsgFinishTime:
             return False
@@ -1324,6 +1338,10 @@ class Story(object):
             self.logger.warn(f"Set variable that is not needed in the story: {name}")
         else:
             self.logger.debug(f"Set variable {name} to {value}")
+        
+        if self.variableValues[name] == value:
+            self.logger.debug(f"Skip double setting of variable {name} to {value}")
+            return
             
         self.variableValues[name] = value
         if store:
diff --git a/hugvey/voice.py b/hugvey/voice.py
index 95c7aaf..abb3fa6 100644
--- a/hugvey/voice.py
+++ b/hugvey/voice.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ class LyrebirdVoiceFetcher(VoiceFetcher):
         
         try:
             logger.debug(f"Fetch Lyrebird voice file: POST {request.url} body: {request.body}")
+#             raise Exception("TEST FOR ERROR HANDLING")
             response = await http_client.fetch(request)
             logger.debug(f"Got Lyrebird voice file in {response.request_time:.3}s")
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/www/js/hugvey_console.js b/www/js/hugvey_console.js
index a83702f..d9f315e 100644
--- a/www/js/hugvey_console.js
+++ b/www/js/hugvey_console.js
@@ -1696,7 +1696,9 @@ class Graph {
                 'messagePlayed': {
                     'msgId': { 'value': '', 'label':'Message ID', 'placeholder': "(eg. en-njsm9b0ni)" },
                     'inverseMatch': { "label": "Match if not played", 'value': '', 'title': "Match if the message has _not_ been played.", 'type':'checkbox' },
-                }
+                },
+                // audioError has no parameters. Just checks if there was an error fetching the audio file
+                'audioError': {}
             };
     }