diff --git a/lib/datura/to_es/webs_to_es/fields.rb b/lib/datura/to_es/webs_to_es/fields.rb
index 3163706be..1ef633126 100644
--- a/lib/datura/to_es/webs_to_es/fields.rb
+++ b/lib/datura/to_es/webs_to_es/fields.rb
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ def data_type
   end
 
   def date(before=true)
-    datestr = get_list(@xpaths["date"]).first
+    if get_list(@xpaths["date"])
+      datestr = get_list(@xpaths["date"]).first
+    else
+      datestr = nil
+    end    
     if datestr
       Datura::Helpers.date_standardize(datestr, true)
     end
@@ -80,7 +84,9 @@ def format
   end
 
   def image_id
-    get_list(@xpaths["image_id"]).first
+    if get_list(@xpaths["image_id"])
+      get_list(@xpaths["image_id"]).first
+    end
   end
 
   def keywords
@@ -218,7 +224,9 @@ def works
   # new/moved fields for API 2.0
 
   def cover_image
-    get_list(@xpaths["image_id"]).first
+    if get_list(@xpaths["image_id"])
+      get_list(@xpaths["image_id"]).first
+    end
   end
 
   def date_updated