diff --git a/onionr/api.py b/onionr/api.py
index d413c2d9..bf592c59 100755
--- a/onionr/api.py
+++ b/onionr/api.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class API:
                 resp = ''
                 if self._utils.validateHash(data):
                     if not os.path.exists('data/blocks/' + data + '.db'):
-                        block = Block(data.encode(), core=self._core)
+                        block = Block(hash=data.encode(), core=self._core)
                         resp = base64.b64encode(block.getRaw().encode()).decode()
                 if len(resp) == 0:
                     abort(404)
diff --git a/onionr/communicator2.py b/onionr/communicator2.py
index 33b23c2f..73fbc4ae 100755
--- a/onionr/communicator2.py
+++ b/onionr/communicator2.py
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ class OnionrCommunicatorDaemon:
                     else:
                         logger.warn('POW failed for block' + blockHash)
                 else:
-                    logger.warn('Block hash validation failed for ' + blockHash)
+                    logger.warn('Block hash validation failed for ' + blockHash + ' got ' + self._core._crypto.sha3Hash(content))
+        self.decrementThreadCount('getBlocks')
         return
 
     def pickOnlinePeer(self):
diff --git a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
index 4e46e5a4..90a32b9a 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
@@ -27,14 +27,16 @@ class Block:
 
     def __init__(self, hash = None, core = None, type = None, content = None):
         # take from arguments
+        # sometimes people input a bytes object instead of str in `hash`
+        try:
+            hash = hash.decode()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
         self.hash = hash
         self.core = core
         self.btype = type
         self.bcontent = content
 
-        # sometimes people input a bytes object instead of str in `hash`
-        if isinstance(hash, bytes):
-            hash = hash.decode()
 
         # initialize variables
         self.valid = True
@@ -57,6 +59,8 @@ class Block:
         if not self.getHash() is None:
             if not self.update():
                 logger.debug('Failed to open block %s.' % self.getHash())
+        else:
+            logger.debug('Did not update block')
 
     # logic