diff --git a/application/ApplicationUtils.php b/application/ApplicationUtils.php
index 6d87811..274331e 100644
--- a/application/ApplicationUtils.php
+++ b/application/ApplicationUtils.php
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ class ApplicationUtils
      * @param bool   $enableCheck    whether to check for new versions
      * @param bool   $isLoggedIn     whether the user is logged in
      *
+     * @throws Exception an invalid branch has been set for update checks
+     *
      * @return mixed the new version code if available and greater, else 'false'
      */
     public static function checkUpdate($currentVersion,
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index d26c0c1..e259204 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -643,9 +643,11 @@ class pageBuilder
                 $GLOBALS['config']['UPDATECHECK_BRANCH']
             );
             $this->tpl->assign('newVersion', escape($version));
+            $this->tpl->assign('versionError', '');
 
         } catch (Exception $exc) {
             logm($exc->getMessage());
+            $this->tpl->assign('newVersion', '');
             $this->tpl->assign('versionError', escape($exc->getMessage()));
         }