diff --git a/src/handler/handler.ts b/src/handler/handler.ts
index 61f03f2..a88bbb3 100644
--- a/src/handler/handler.ts
+++ b/src/handler/handler.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ export async function requestAPI<T>(
   }
 
   if (!response.ok) {
+    if (data.status === 'failed' && data.description) {
+      return data;
+    }
+
     throw new ServerConnection.ResponseError(response, data.message || data);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 190fa80..f912b9a 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -374,6 +374,11 @@ class FsspecWidget extends Widget {
     const response = await this.model.listDirectory(
       this.model.userFilesystems[this.model.activeFilesystem].key
     );
+    if (!response) {
+      Logger.error('Error fetching files for filesystem: response is null');
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (
       !('status' in response) ||
       !(response.status === 'success') ||