diff --git a/lib/frame.js b/lib/frame.js
index cd37dce..55b9373 100644
--- a/lib/frame.js
+++ b/lib/frame.js
@@ -166,9 +166,15 @@
 	// need to wait for the settings to arrive!
 	while (settings.isStillDefault){
 		logging.message("Starting synchronous request to wait for settings.");
-		let xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
-		xhr.open("GET", browser.extension.getURL("releaseNotes.txt"), false);
-		xhr.send();
+		try {
+			let xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
+			xhr.open("GET", "https://[::]", false);
+			xhr.send();
+			xhr = null;
+		}
+		catch (e){
+			logging.verbose("Error in XHR:", e);
+		}
 		logging.message("settings still default?", settings.isStillDefault);
 	}