diff --git a/examples/dictionary.py b/examples/dictionary.py
index 328e94dbb0..88b6c17747 100644
--- a/examples/dictionary.py
+++ b/examples/dictionary.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ async def lookup_word(self, word: str) -> None:
                 results = response.json()
             except Exception:
                 self.query_one("#results", Markdown).update(response.text)
+                return
 
         if word == self.query_one(Input).value:
             markdown = self.make_word_markdown(results)