diff --git a/lib/eupmc.js b/lib/eupmc.js
index b47a654..1cfda9f 100644
--- a/lib/eupmc.js
+++ b/lib/eupmc.js
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ EuPmc.prototype.completeCallback = function(data) {
 
   var resp = data.responseWrapper;
 
+  if(!resp.hitCount[0] || !resp.resultList[0].result) { 
+    log.error("Malformed response from EuropePMC. Try running again.");
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  
   if (eupmc.first){
     eupmc.first = false;
     eupmc.hitcount = parseInt(resp.hitCount[0]);