diff --git a/empc.el b/empc.el
index b09050f..b90d84c 100644
--- a/empc.el
+++ b/empc.el
@@ -200,35 +200,43 @@ For status:
 
 (defun empc-song-to-string (song)
   "Return a string as per `empc-playlist-song-format' variable using SONG's attributes."
-  (let* ((time (empc-time-to-string (plist-get song :time)))
-	(file (plist-get song :file))
-	(artist (plist-get song :artist))
-	(title (plist-get song :title))
-	(album (plist-get song :album))
-	(date (number-to-string (plist-get song :date)))
-	(track (plist-get song :track))
-	(genre (plist-get song :genre))
-	(pos (number-to-string (plist-get song :pos)))
-	(string-format `(concat ,@empc-song-format)))
-    (eval string-format)))
+  (if song
+      (let* ((time (empc-time-to-string (plist-get song :time)))
+	     (file (plist-get song :file))
+	     (artist (plist-get song :artist))
+	     (title (plist-get song :title))
+	     (album (plist-get song :album))
+	     (date (when (plist-member song :date) (number-to-string (plist-get song :date))))
+	     (track (plist-get song :track))
+	     (genre (plist-get song :genre))
+	     (pos (number-to-string (plist-get song :pos)))
+	     (string-format `(concat ,@empc-song-format)))
+	(eval string-format))
+    ""))
 
 (defun empc-mode-line-to-string ()
   "Return a string as per `empc-mode-line-format'."
-  (let* ((song (empc-current-song empc-object))
-	 (status (empc-status empc-object))
-	 (time (empc-time-to-string (plist-get song :time)))
-	 (file (plist-get song :file))
-	 (artist (plist-get song :artist))
-	 (title (plist-get song :title))
-	 (album (plist-get song :album))
-	 (date (number-to-string (plist-get song :date)))
-	 (track (plist-get song :track))
-	 (genre (plist-get song :genre))
-	 (pos (number-to-string (1+ (plist-get song :pos))))
-	 (playlistlength (number-to-string (plist-get status :playlistlength)))
-	 (state (symbol-name (plist-get status :state)))
-	 (string-format `(concat ,@empc-mode-line-format)))
-    (eval string-format)))
+  (if song
+      (let* ((song (empc-current-song empc-object))
+	     (status (empc-status empc-object))
+	     (time (empc-time-to-string (plist-get song :time)))
+	     (file (plist-get song :file))
+	     (artist (plist-get song :artist))
+	     (title (plist-get song :title))
+	     (album (plist-get song :album))
+	     (date (when (plist-member song :date) (number-to-string (plist-get song :date))))
+	     (track (plist-get song :track))
+	     (genre (plist-get song :genre))
+	     (pos (number-to-string (1+ (plist-get song :pos))))
+	     (playlistlength (number-to-string (plist-get status :playlistlength)))
+	     (state (symbol-name (plist-get status :state)))
+	     (string-format `(concat ,@empc-mode-line-format)))
+	(eval string-format))
+    (let* ((status (empc-status empc-object))
+	   (state (symbol-name (plist-get status :state)))
+	   (playlistlength (number-to-string (plist-get status :playlistlength)))
+	   (string-format `(concat ,@empc-mode-line-format)))
+      (eval string-format))))
 
 (defvar empc-last-crossfade nil)
 (defvar empc-mode-line-string "")