diff --git a/modules/cache.js b/modules/cache.js
index a5912a5..0f6f1ca 100644
--- a/modules/cache.js
+++ b/modules/cache.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 var config = require("./config");
 var redis = require("redis").createClient();
-var fs = require("fs");
 
 var exp = {};
 
diff --git a/modules/helpers.js b/modules/helpers.js
index f63a87a..16b0ea3 100644
--- a/modules/helpers.js
+++ b/modules/helpers.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ var networking = require('./networking');
 var config = require('./config');
 var cache = require('./cache');
 var skins = require('./skins');
-var fs = require('fs');
 
 var valid_uuid = /^[0-9a-f]{32}$/;
 var hash_pattern = /[0-9a-f]+$/;
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ function get_image_hash(uuid, callback) {
         console.log("uuid not known or too old");
         store_images(uuid, details, function(err, hash) {
           if (err) {
-            callback(err, -1, null);
+            callback(err, -1, details && details.h);
           } else {
             console.log("hash: " + hash);
             callback(null, (hash ? 2 : 3), hash);
@@ -114,22 +113,20 @@ exp.uuid_valid = function(uuid) {
 exp.get_avatar = function(uuid, helm, size, callback) {
   console.log("\nrequest: " + uuid);
   get_image_hash(uuid, function(err, status, hash) {
-    if (err) {
-      callback(err, -1, null);
+    if (hash) {
+      var filepath = (helm ? config.helms_dir : config.faces_dir) + hash + ".png";
+      skins.resize_img(filepath, size, function(img_err, result) {
+        if (img_err) {
+          callback(img_err, -1, null);
+        } else {
+          // we might have a hash although an error occured
+          // (e.g. Mojang servers not reachable, using outdated hash)
+          callback(err, (err ? -1 : status), result);
+        }
+      });
     } else {
-      if (hash) {
-        var filepath = (helm ? config.helms_dir : config.faces_dir) + hash + ".png";
-        skins.resize_img(filepath, size, function(err, result) {
-          if (err) {
-            callback(err, -1, null);
-          } else {
-            callback(null, status, result);
-          }
-        });
-      } else {
-        // hash is null when uuid has no skin
-        callback(null, status, null);
-      }
+      // hash is null when uuid has no skin
+      callback(err, status, null);
     }
   });
 
diff --git a/routes/avatars.js b/routes/avatars.js
index d0732e3..dba5ec3 100644
--- a/routes/avatars.js
+++ b/routes/avatars.js
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-var networking = require('../modules/networking');
 var helpers = require('../modules/helpers');
 var router = require('express').Router();
 var config = require('../modules/config');
 var skins = require('../modules/skins');
-var fs = require('fs');
 
 /* GET avatar request. */
 router.get('/:uuid', function(req, res) {
@@ -29,15 +27,20 @@ router.get('/:uuid', function(req, res) {
       console.log(uuid + " - " + status);
       if (err) {
         console.error(err);
-        handle_404(def);
+        if (image) {
+          console.warn("error occured, image found anyway");
+          sendimage(200, status, image);
+        } else {
+          handle_404(def);
+        }
       } else if (status == 1 || status == 2) {
         sendimage(200, status == 1, image);
       } else if (status == 3) {
         handle_404(def);
       } else {
-        console.error("wat");
-        console.error(err);
-        console.error(status);
+        console.error("unexpected error/status");
+        console.error("error: " + err);
+        console.error("status: " + status);
         handle_404(def);
       }
     });