diff --git a/outbox.py b/outbox.py
index c998d1a1c..2e08fa09a 100644
--- a/outbox.py
+++ b/outbox.py
@@ -214,8 +214,10 @@ def postMessageToOutbox(messageJson: {}, postToNickname: str,
     if not server.session:
         if debug:
             print('DEBUG: creating new session for c2s')
-        server.session = \
-            createSession(useTor)
+        server.session = createSession(useTor)
+        if not server.session:
+            print('ERROR: Failed to create session for postMessageToOutbox')
+            return False
     if debug:
         print('DEBUG: sending c2s post to followers')
     # remove inactive threads
diff --git a/posts.py b/posts.py
index 94798aabd..2f9b75c57 100644
--- a/posts.py
+++ b/posts.py
@@ -2831,6 +2831,8 @@ def getPublicPostsOfPerson(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
     """ This is really just for test purposes
     """
     session = createSession(useTor)
+    if not session:
+        return
     personCache = {}
     cachedWebfingers = {}
     federationList = []