diff --git a/dot_dotfiles/polybar/config.tmpl b/dot_dotfiles/polybar/config.tmpl
index 416d0e3..4d04d74 100644
--- a/dot_dotfiles/polybar/config.tmpl
+++ b/dot_dotfiles/polybar/config.tmpl
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ label = %percentage_used%%
 [module/updates-arch]
 type = custom/script
 exec = ~/.config/polybar/polybar-scripts/polybar-scripts/updates-arch/updates-arch.sh
-format-prefix = " "
+format-prefix = "ﮮ "
 format-prefix-foreground = ${colors.bright_green}
 ;format-underline = ${colors.light3}
 interval = 600
diff --git a/scripts/executable_obelisk.status.sh b/scripts/executable_obelisk.status.sh
index b31fb7f..55508f8 100644
--- a/scripts/executable_obelisk.status.sh
+++ b/scripts/executable_obelisk.status.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 STATUSURL=https://obelisk.ilabt.imec.be/api/v2/status
-STATUS=$(curl -s $STATUSURL | jq -r '.status')
+STATUS=$(curl -s $STATUSURL | jq -r '.status' 2>/dev/null)
 
 # colors
 HEALTHY="#b8bb26"
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@ UNKNOWN="#928374"
 
 # echo the status in polybar format
 # the {F}x{F-} syntax allows you to color stuff
-if [ $STATUS = "healthy" ]; then
+# could have failed completely (network down etc)
+if [ -z $STATUS ]; then
+    echo "%{F$UNKNOWN} %{F-} obelisk"
+# expected statuses, healthy, degraded, failed
+elif [ $STATUS = "healthy" ]; then
     echo "%{F$HEALTHY} %{F-} obelisk"
 elif [ $STATUS = "degraded" ]; then
     echo "%{F$DEGRADED} %{F-} obelisk"