diff --git a/api_webchat/controller.js b/api_webchat/controller.js
index a2960369..4f3092ff 100644
--- a/api_webchat/controller.js
+++ b/api_webchat/controller.js
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ switch (llm) {
         worker = new Worker('model-worker-openai.js', { type: 'module' });
         break;
     case "ollama_api":
-        browser.runtime.sendMessage({command: "ollama_api_ready_" + call_id, window_id: (await browser.windows.getCurrent()).id});
+        try{
+            browser.runtime.sendMessage({command: "ollama_api_ready_" + call_id, window_id: (await browser.windows.getCurrent()).id});
+        }catch(e){
+            console.error(">>>>>> [ThunderAI] Failed to send ollama_api_ready: " + JSON.stringify(e));
+        }
         worker = new Worker('model-worker-ollama.js', { type: 'module' });
         break;
     case "openai_comp_api":
@@ -85,7 +89,14 @@ switch (llm) {
         messagesArea.appendUserMessage(browser.i18n.getMessage("chagpt_api_connecting") + " " +browser.i18n.getMessage("AndModel") + " \"" + prefs_api.chatgpt_model + "\"...", "info");
         break;
     case "ollama_api": {
-        let prefs_api = await browser.storage.sync.get({ollama_host: '', ollama_model: ''});
+        let prefs_api ={};
+        try{
+            await browser.storage.sync.get({ollama_host: '', ollama_model: ''});
+        }catch(e){
+            prefs_api.ollama_host = '';
+            prefs_api.ollama_model = '';
+            console.error(">>>>>> [ThunderAI] Failed to get ollama_api prefs: " + JSON.stringify(e));
+        }
         let i18nStrings = {};
         i18nStrings["ollama_api_request_failed"] = browser.i18n.getMessage('ollama_api_request_failed');
         i18nStrings["error_connection_interrupted"] = browser.i18n.getMessage('error_connection_interrupted');
@@ -118,6 +129,7 @@ switch (llm) {
 
 // Event listeners for worker messages
 worker.onmessage = function(event) {
+    console.log(">>>>>>>>>> [ThunderAI] controller.js onmessage: " + JSON.stringify(event));
     const { type, payload } = event.data;
     switch (type) {
         case 'messageSent':