diff --git a/pygetpapers/config.ini b/pygetpapers/config.ini
index d67aa11..54b4773 100644
--- a/pygetpapers/config.ini
+++ b/pygetpapers/config.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [pygetpapers]
-version=1.2.1
+version=1.2.3
 
 [europe_pmc]
 query_url=https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/webservices/rest/searchPOST
diff --git a/pygetpapers/repository/europe_pmc.py b/pygetpapers/repository/europe_pmc.py
index 8a0c15c..f9e9b69 100644
--- a/pygetpapers/repository/europe_pmc.py
+++ b/pygetpapers/repository/europe_pmc.py
@@ -184,9 +184,12 @@ def build_and_send_query(
         queryparams = self.buildquery(
             cursor_mark, maximum_hits_per_page, query, synonym=synonym
         )
-        retireved_metadata_dictionary = self.download_tools.gets_result_dict_for_query(
-            queryparams[HEADERS], queryparams[PAYLOAD]
-        )
+        try:
+            retireved_metadata_dictionary = self.download_tools.gets_result_dict_for_query(
+                queryparams[HEADERS], queryparams[PAYLOAD]
+            )
+        except:
+            retireved_metadata_dictionary = None
         return retireved_metadata_dictionary
 
     @staticmethod