diff --git a/mod/init.lua b/mod/init.lua
index 3131caf..48220fe 100644
--- a/mod/init.lua
+++ b/mod/init.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ ranks.categories = {}
 
 local wp = minetest.get_worldpath()
 
-local fetch_file = function(filename, old)
+local fetch_file = function(filename, old, verify_ranks)
 	local f = io.open(filename, "r")
 	if not f then
 		minetest.log("error", "failed to open " .. filename)
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ local fetch_file = function(filename, old)
 		return old
 	end
 
+	if not verify_ranks then
+		return pl
+	end
+
 	local tbl = {}
 
 	for i = 1, 10 do
@@ -41,10 +45,11 @@ end
 
 
 ranks.fetch = function()
-	ranks.player = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_players.json", ranks.player)
-	ranks.box = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_boxes.json", ranks.box)
-	ranks.builder = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_builders.json", ranks.builder)
-	ranks.categories = fetch_file(wp .. "/category_series.json", ranks.categories)
+	ranks.player = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_players.json", ranks.player, true)
+	ranks.box = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_boxes.json", ranks.box, true)
+	ranks.builder = fetch_file(wp .. "/top_builders.json", ranks.builder, true)
+
+	ranks.categories = fetch_file(wp .. "/category_series.json", ranks.categories, false)
 
 	minetest.after(300, ranks.fetch)
 end