diff --git a/autoloads/scoreboard.gd b/autoloads/scoreboard.gd
index 17a043d..649c2a7 100644
--- a/autoloads/scoreboard.gd
+++ b/autoloads/scoreboard.gd
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ class ScoreEntry:
 
 func _ready() -> void:
 	var file = File.new()
-	file.open("res://scoreboard_host.txt", File.READ)
-	server_host = file.get_line()
-	file.close()
+	var result = file.open("res://scoreboard_host.txt", File.READ)
+	if result == OK:
+		server_host = file.get_line()
+		file.close()
 	
 	http = HTTPRequest.new()
 	http.download_chunk_size = 4096
diff --git a/menus/results.gd b/menus/results.gd
index 9748925..8d03a0c 100644
--- a/menus/results.gd
+++ b/menus/results.gd
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func _on_AnimationPlayer_animation_finished(anim_name):
 		else:
 			Game.change_map(LevelData.levels[Game.current_level].scene)
 		return
-	if Game.final_score > Game.old_high_score and not Debug.is_cheating:
+	if Game.final_score > Game.old_high_score and not Debug.is_cheating and not ScoreBoard.server_host.empty():
 		animation_player.play("submit_score_popup")
 	else:
 		Fade.fade_out(Options.transition_speed_secs)
diff --git a/menus/scoreboards_scholar.gd b/menus/scoreboards_scholar.gd
index 10b3f05..9377f82 100644
--- a/menus/scoreboards_scholar.gd
+++ b/menus/scoreboards_scholar.gd
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ func _refresh_scores() -> void:
 
 
 func _load_scores(level: String) -> void:
+	loaded_scores[level] = {}
+	
+	if ScoreBoard.server_host.empty():
+		yield(get_tree(), "idle_frame")
+		return
+	
 	var result: Dictionary = yield(ScoreBoard.get_scores(level), "completed")
 	if ScoreBoard.errored:
 		#TODO: failure indication
@@ -86,7 +92,6 @@ func _load_scores(level: String) -> void:
 	_sorting_dict = result
 	players.sort_custom(self, "_sort_scores")
 	
-	loaded_scores[level] = {}
 	for p in players:
 		loaded_scores[level][p] = result[p]