diff --git a/lib/channel/mediarefresher.js b/lib/channel/mediarefresher.js
index 196e387f..0e400843 100644
--- a/lib/channel/mediarefresher.js
+++ b/lib/channel/mediarefresher.js
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ MediaRefresherModule.prototype.refreshGoogleDocs = function (media, cb) {
             return;
         }
 
+        if (typeof err !== "string") err = "unknown";
         err = err.replace(/Google Drive lookup failed: /, "");
         err = err.replace(/Forbidden/, "Access Denied");
         err = err.replace(/You don't have permission to access this video\./,
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ MediaRefresherModule.prototype.initGooglePlus = function (media, cb) {
             return;
         }
 
+        if (typeof err !== "string") err = "unknown";
         err = err.replace(/Forbidden/, "Access Denied");
 
         switch (err) {