diff --git a/src/keri/app/agenting.py b/src/keri/app/agenting.py
index 7fcc4721c..5683b8cea 100644
--- a/src/keri/app/agenting.py
+++ b/src/keri/app/agenting.py
@@ -484,6 +484,10 @@ def msgDo(self, tymth=None, tock=1.0, **opts):
                     continue
 
                 ctrl, locs = random.choice(list(end.items()))
+                if len(locs.items()) == 0:
+                    logger.error(f"must have location in endpoint to query for pre={pre}")
+                    continue
+
                 witer = messengerFrom(hab=hab, pre=ctrl, urls=locs)
             else:
                 wit = random.choice(wits)
diff --git a/src/keri/vdr/verifying.py b/src/keri/vdr/verifying.py
index 870e50f0c..d7fcb245b 100644
--- a/src/keri/vdr/verifying.py
+++ b/src/keri/vdr/verifying.py
@@ -255,10 +255,10 @@ def _processEscrow(self, db, timeout, etype: Type[Exception]):
                 if (dtnow - dte) > datetime.timedelta(seconds=timeout):
                     # escrow stale so raise ValidationError which unescrows below
                     logger.info("Verifier unescrow error: Stale event escrow "
-                                " at said = %s\n", bytes(said))
+                                " at said = %s\n", said)
 
                     raise kering.ValidationError("Stale event escrow "
-                                                 "at said = {}.".format(bytes(said)))
+                                                 "at said = {}.".format(said))
 
                 self.processCredential(creder, prefixer, seqner, saider)