diff --git a/www/js/app.js b/www/js/app.js
index 19335050..a9bccb58 100644
--- a/www/js/app.js
+++ b/www/js/app.js
@@ -2397,6 +2397,9 @@ define(['jquery', 'zimArchiveLoader', 'uiUtil', 'util', 'utf8', 'images', 'cooki
             console.time("Time to First Paint");
             //return;
 
+            // App appears to have successfully launched
+            params.appIsLaunching = 'false';
+
             // Calculate the current article's ZIM baseUrl to use when processing relative links
             var baseUrl = dirEntry.namespace + '/' + dirEntry.url.replace(/[^/]+$/, '');
 
@@ -3215,6 +3218,9 @@ define(['jquery', 'zimArchiveLoader', 'uiUtil', 'util', 'utf8', 'images', 'cooki
                 }
             }).fail(function () {
                 console.error("Error reading article with title " + title);
+                if (params.appIsLaunching) goToMainArticle();
+                // Line below prevents bootloop
+                params.appIsLaunching = false;
             });
         }
 
diff --git a/www/js/init.js b/www/js/init.js
index 1074bb92..b8412953 100644
--- a/www/js/init.js
+++ b/www/js/init.js
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ params['themeChanged'] = params['themeChanged'] || false;
 params['allowInternetAccess'] = params['allowInternetAccess'] || false; //Do not get value from cookie, should be explicitly set by user on a per-session basis
 params['printIntercept'] = false;
 params['printInterception'] = false;
+params['appIsLaunching'] = true; //Allows some routines to tell if the app has just been launched
 
 //Prevent app boot loop with problematic pages that cause an app crash
 if (getCookie('lastPageLoad') == 'failed') {