diff --git a/js/id/renderer/background.js b/js/id/renderer/background.js
index 3e5d4b5f6..e274891ca 100644
--- a/js/id/renderer/background.js
+++ b/js/id/renderer/background.js
@@ -262,8 +262,10 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
         var gpx = q.gpx;
         if (gpx) {
             d3.text(gpx, function(err, gpxTxt) {
-                gpxLayer.geojson(toGeoJSON.gpx(toDom(gpxTxt)));
-                dispatch.change();
+                if (!err) {
+                    gpxLayer.geojson(toGeoJSON.gpx(toDom(gpxTxt)));
+                    dispatch.change();
+                }
             });
         }
     };