diff --git a/R/creation.R b/R/creation.R
index a7c5adf..fd2d1e2 100644
--- a/R/creation.R
+++ b/R/creation.R
@@ -17,17 +17,21 @@ contains_array <- function(store, path=NA) {
     path <- normalize_storage_path(path)
     prefix <- path_to_prefix(path)
     key <- paste0(prefix, ARRAY_META_KEY)
-    return(store$contains_item(key))
+    ret <- store$contains_item(key)
+    return(!is.null(ret) && ret)
 }
 
 #' @keywords internal
 contains_group <- function(store, path=NA) {
     # Reference: https://github.com/zarr-developers/zarr-python/blob/5dd4a0e6cdc04c6413e14f57f61d389972ea937c/zarr/storage.py#L99
     # Return True if the store contains a group at the given logical path.
+
     path <- normalize_storage_path(path)
     prefix <- path_to_prefix(path)
     key <- paste0(prefix, GROUP_META_KEY)
-    return(store$contains_item(key))
+    ret <- store$contains_item(key)
+    
+    return(!is.null(ret) && ret)
 }
 
 #' @keywords internal
diff --git a/R/meta.R b/R/meta.R
index 8c88913..6086a54 100644
--- a/R/meta.R
+++ b/R/meta.R
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ Metadata2 <- R6::R6Class("Metadata2",
         },
         decode_array_metadata = function(s) {
             meta <- self$decode_metadata(s)
-            validate_v2_meta(meta)
+            if(!is.null(meta)) validate_v2_meta(meta)
             return(meta)
         },
         decode_group_metadata = function(s) {
             meta <- self$decode_metadata(s)
-            validate_v2_meta(meta)
+            if(!is.null(meta)) validate_v2_meta(meta)
             return(meta)
         },
         encode_array_metadata = function(meta) {
diff --git a/R/stores.R b/R/stores.R
index 3d3e784..635def5 100644
--- a/R/stores.R
+++ b/R/stores.R
@@ -389,7 +389,9 @@ HttpStore <- R6::R6Class("HttpStore",
         res$request()
         return(unclass(res$responses())[[1]])
       } else {
-        return(private$client$get(path = path))
+        ret <- NULL
+        try(ret <- private$client$get(path = path))
+        return(ret)
       }
     },
     memoize_make_request = function() {
@@ -405,7 +407,7 @@ HttpStore <- R6::R6Class("HttpStore",
     get_zmetadata = function() {
       res <- private$make_request(".zmetadata")
       
-      if(res$status_code == 200) {
+      if(!is.null(res$status_code) && res$status_code == 200) {
         out <- try_fromJSON(res$parse("UTF-8"))
       } else out <- NULL
       
@@ -463,7 +465,6 @@ HttpStore <- R6::R6Class("HttpStore",
     #' @param item The item key.
     #' @return A boolean value.
     contains_item = function(item) {
-      
       # use consolidated metadata if it exists
       if(!is.null(try_from_zmeta(item_to_key(item), self))) {
         return(TRUE)
@@ -472,7 +473,7 @@ HttpStore <- R6::R6Class("HttpStore",
       } else {
         res <- private$make_request_memoized(item)
         
-        return(res$status_code == 200)        
+        return(!is.null(res$status_code) && res$status_code == 200)        
       }
 
     },
diff --git a/R/zarr-array.R b/R/zarr-array.R
index 7937b84..ae3f58c 100644
--- a/R/zarr-array.R
+++ b/R/zarr-array.R
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ ZarrArray <- R6::R6Class("ZarrArray",
       
       if(is.null(meta)) {
         meta_bytes <- private$store$get_item(mkey)
-        meta <- private$store$metadata_class$decode_array_metadata(meta_bytes)
+        if(!is.null(meta_bytes))
+          meta <- private$store$metadata_class$decode_array_metadata(meta_bytes)
       }
       
       private$meta <- meta
diff --git a/R/zarr-group.R b/R/zarr-group.R
index 54cbf22..32b1058 100644
--- a/R/zarr-group.R
+++ b/R/zarr-group.R
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ ZarrGroup <- R6::R6Class("ZarrGroup",
           }
         })
         
-        private$meta <- private$store$metadata_class$decode_group_metadata(meta_bytes)
+        if(!is.null(meta_bytes))
+          private$meta <- private$store$metadata_class$decode_group_metadata(meta_bytes)
         
       }
       
@@ -229,6 +230,11 @@ ZarrGroup <- R6::R6Class("ZarrGroup",
     #' Obtain a group member.
     #' @param item character item to test for
     get_item = function(item) {
+      if(is.null(item)) {
+        #for case with no internet
+        warning("item can not be null") 
+        return(NULL)
+      }
       path <- private$item_path(item)
       if(contains_array(private$store, path)) {
         return(ZarrArray$new(