diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js b/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
index b898ad2ebc..91ffbf2c27 100644
--- a/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
@@ -47,9 +47,14 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
 
         // The key used for PersistedElement
         this._persistKey = getPersistKey(this.props.app.id);
-        this._sgWidget = new StopGapWidget(this.props);
-        this._sgWidget.on("preparing", this._onWidgetPrepared);
-        this._sgWidget.on("ready", this._onWidgetReady);
+        try {
+            this._sgWidget = new StopGapWidget(this.props);
+            this._sgWidget.on("preparing", this._onWidgetPrepared);
+            this._sgWidget.on("ready", this._onWidgetReady);
+        } catch (e) {
+            console.log("Failed to construct widget", e);
+            this._sgWidget = null;
+        }
         this.iframe = null; // ref to the iframe (callback style)
 
         this.state = this._getNewState(props);
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
             // Force the widget to be non-persistent (able to be deleted/forgotten)
             ActiveWidgetStore.destroyPersistentWidget(this.props.app.id);
             PersistedElement.destroyElement(this._persistKey);
-            this._sgWidget.stop();
+            if (this._sgWidget) this._sgWidget.stop();
         }
 
         this.setState({ hasPermissionToLoad });
@@ -117,7 +122,7 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
 
     componentDidMount() {
         // Only fetch IM token on mount if we're showing and have permission to load
-        if (this.state.hasPermissionToLoad) {
+        if (this._sgWidget && this.state.hasPermissionToLoad) {
             this._startWidget();
         }
 
@@ -146,10 +151,15 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
         if (this._sgWidget) {
             this._sgWidget.stop();
         }
-        this._sgWidget = new StopGapWidget(newProps);
-        this._sgWidget.on("preparing", this._onWidgetPrepared);
-        this._sgWidget.on("ready", this._onWidgetReady);
-        this._startWidget();
+        try {
+            this._sgWidget = new StopGapWidget(newProps);
+            this._sgWidget.on("preparing", this._onWidgetPrepared);
+            this._sgWidget.on("ready", this._onWidgetReady);
+            this._startWidget();
+        } catch (e) {
+            console.log("Failed to construct widget", e);
+            this._sgWidget = null;
+        }
     }
 
     _startWidget() {
@@ -161,7 +171,7 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
     _iframeRefChange = (ref) => {
         this.iframe = ref;
         if (ref) {
-            this._sgWidget.start(ref);
+            if (this._sgWidget) this._sgWidget.start(ref);
         } else {
             this._resetWidget(this.props);
         }
@@ -209,7 +219,7 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
         // Delete the widget from the persisted store for good measure.
         PersistedElement.destroyElement(this._persistKey);
 
-        this._sgWidget.stop({forceDestroy: true});
+        if (this._sgWidget) this._sgWidget.stop({forceDestroy: true});
     }
 
     _onWidgetPrepared = () => {
@@ -340,7 +350,13 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
                 <Spinner message={_t("Loading...")} />
             </div>
         );
-        if (!this.state.hasPermissionToLoad) {
+        if (this._sgWidget === null) {
+            appTileBody = (
+                <div className={appTileBodyClass} style={appTileBodyStyles}>
+                    <AppWarning errorMsg="Error loading Widget" />
+                </div>
+            );
+        } else if (!this.state.hasPermissionToLoad) {
             // only possible for room widgets, can assert this.props.room here
             const isEncrypted = MatrixClientPeg.get().isRoomEncrypted(this.props.room.roomId);
             appTileBody = (