diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/handler.py b/src/wuttaweb/handler.py
index 615eae4..1fac0d7 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/handler.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/handler.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 #
 #  wuttaweb -- Web App for Wutta Framework
-#  Copyright © 2024 Lance Edgar
+#  Copyright © 2024-2025 Lance Edgar
 #
 #  This file is part of Wutta Framework.
 #
@@ -70,15 +70,7 @@ class WebHandler(GenericHandler):
         url = self.config.get("wuttaweb.favicon_url")
         if url:
             return url
-
-        # nb. in rare circumstances i have received unhandled error email,
-        # which somehow was triggered by 'fanstatic.needed' being missing
-        # from the environ.  not sure why that would happen, but it seems
-        # safe to ignore when it does - favicon is not *that* important.
-        if "fanstatic.needed" in request.environ:
-            return self.get_fanstatic_url(request, static.favicon)
-
-        return ""
+        return self.get_fanstatic_url(request, static.favicon)
 
     def get_header_logo_url(self, request):
         """
diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/subscribers.py b/src/wuttaweb/subscribers.py
index 5dba500..6fbd4b0 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/subscribers.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/subscribers.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import logging
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
 from pyramid import threadlocal
+from pyramid.httpexceptions import HTTPFound
 
 from wuttaweb import helpers
 from wuttaweb.db import Session
@@ -123,6 +124,17 @@ def new_request(event):
     config = request.registry.settings["wutta_config"]
     app = config.get_app()
 
+    # nb. in rare circumstances i have received unhandled error email,
+    # which somehow was triggered by 'fanstatic.needed' being missing
+    # from the environ.  not sure why that would happen, but it seems
+    # to when crawlers request a non-existent filename under the
+    # fanstatic path.  there isn't a great way to handle it since
+    # e.g. can't show the normal error page if JS resources won't
+    # load, so we try a hail-mary redirect..
+    # (nb. also we skip this if environ is empty, i.e. for tests)
+    if request.environ and "fanstatic.needed" not in request.environ:
+        raise HTTPFound(location=request.route_url("home"))
+
     request.wutta_config = config
 
     def get_referrer(default=None):
diff --git a/tests/test_handler.py b/tests/test_handler.py
index b038e47..ad3cc7a 100644
--- a/tests/test_handler.py
+++ b/tests/test_handler.py
@@ -38,14 +38,6 @@ class TestWebHandler(WebTestCase):
             url = handler.get_fanstatic_url(self.request, static.logo)
             self.assertEqual(url, "/testing/fanstatic/wuttaweb_img/logo.png")
 
-        # error if environ missing config/data
-        environ = dict(self.request.environ)
-        del environ["fanstatic.needed"]
-        with patch.object(self.request, "environ", new=environ):
-            self.assertRaises(
-                KeyError, handler.get_fanstatic_url, self.request, static.logo
-            )
-
     def test_get_favicon_url(self):
         handler = self.make_handler()
 
@@ -53,12 +45,6 @@ class TestWebHandler(WebTestCase):
         url = handler.get_favicon_url(self.request)
         self.assertEqual(url, "/fanstatic/wuttaweb_img/favicon.ico")
 
-        # returns empty if environ missing config/data
-        environ = dict(self.request.environ)
-        del environ["fanstatic.needed"]
-        with patch.object(self.request, "environ", new=environ):
-            self.assertEqual(handler.get_favicon_url(self.request), "")
-
         # config override
         self.config.setdefault("wuttaweb.favicon_url", "/testing/other.ico")
         url = handler.get_favicon_url(self.request)
diff --git a/tests/test_subscribers.py b/tests/test_subscribers.py
index 501e160..da4e85a 100644
--- a/tests/test_subscribers.py
+++ b/tests/test_subscribers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 from wuttjamaican.conf import WuttaConfig
 
 from pyramid import testing
+from pyramid.httpexceptions import HTTPFound
 from pyramid.security import remember
 
 from wuttaweb import subscribers
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ from wuttaweb import helpers
 from wuttaweb.auth import WuttaSecurityPolicy
 
 
+# TODO: change import above
+mod = subscribers
+
+
 class TestNewRequest(TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
@@ -34,6 +39,14 @@ class TestNewRequest(TestCase):
         # request.registry.settings = {'wutta_config': self.config}
         return request
 
+    def test_missing_fanstatic_needed(self):
+        self.pyramid_config.add_route("home", "/")
+        event = MagicMock(request=self.request)
+
+        # should redirect if 'fanstatic.needed' missing from environ
+        with patch.object(self.request, "environ", new={"foo": "bar"}):
+            self.assertRaises(HTTPFound, mod.new_request, event)
+
     def test_wutta_config(self):
         event = MagicMock(request=self.request)