diff --git a/library/DFError.h b/library/DFError.h
index 5a44df27c..732e44e5a 100644
--- a/library/DFError.h
+++ b/library/DFError.h
@@ -71,6 +71,19 @@ namespace DFHack
                 return "both x and y needs to be between 0 and 48";
             }
         };
+
+        // a call to DFHack::mem_info::getAdress() failed
+        class MissingAddress  : public exception
+        {
+        public:
+            MissingAddress(const char* _address) : address(_address) {}
+            const std::string address;
+
+            virtual const char* what() const throw()
+            {
+                return "memory address missing";
+            }
+        };
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
index cfa761378..09b3cc0d7 100644
--- a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
+++ b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
@@ -668,8 +668,12 @@ bool API::ReadGeology (vector < vector <uint16_t> >& assign)
         )
     )
     {
+        // FIXME should probably be moved into getAdress or getOffset for easy storing of 
+        // the missing definition
+        throw Error::MissingAddress();
+
         // fail if we don't have them
-        return false;
+        //return false;
     }
 
     // read position of the region inside DF world
@@ -751,7 +755,9 @@ bool API::InitReadBuildings ( uint32_t& numbuildings )
     {
         d->buildingsInited = false;
         numbuildings = 0;
-        return false;
+
+        throw Error::MissingAddress("buildings");
+        //return false;
     }
 }
 
@@ -1160,6 +1166,7 @@ bool API::getItemIndexesInBox(vector<uint32_t> &indexes,
             }
         }
     }
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool API::ReadCreature (const int32_t index, t_creature & furball)