diff --git a/http-api/src/main/java/net/runelite/http/api/hiscore/HiscoreClient.java b/http-api/src/main/java/net/runelite/http/api/hiscore/HiscoreClient.java
index 65197775fd..3f3f968d83 100644
--- a/http-api/src/main/java/net/runelite/http/api/hiscore/HiscoreClient.java
+++ b/http-api/src/main/java/net/runelite/http/api/hiscore/HiscoreClient.java
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ public class HiscoreClient
 	public HiscoreResult lookup(String username, HttpUrl endpoint) throws IOException
 	{
 		HiscoreResultBuilder resultBuilder = lookupUsername(username, endpoint);
+
+		if (resultBuilder == null)
+		{
+			return null;
+		}
+
 		return resultBuilder.build();
 	}
 
@@ -56,6 +62,12 @@ public class HiscoreClient
 	public SingleHiscoreSkillResult lookup(String username, HiscoreSkill skill, HiscoreEndpoint endpoint) throws IOException
 	{
 		HiscoreResultBuilder resultBuilder = lookupUsername(username, endpoint.getHiscoreURL());
+
+		if (resultBuilder == null)
+		{
+			return null;
+		}
+
 		HiscoreResult result = resultBuilder.build();
 
 		Skill requested = result.getSkill(skill);
@@ -92,7 +104,7 @@ public class HiscoreClient
 				switch (okresponse.code())
 				{
 					case 404:
-						throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+						return null;
 					default:
 						throw new IOException("Error retrieving data from Jagex Hiscores: " + okresponse.message());
 				}
diff --git a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/chatcommands/ChatCommandsPlugin.java b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/chatcommands/ChatCommandsPlugin.java
index dbda9198c6..9ed0520293 100644
--- a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/chatcommands/ChatCommandsPlugin.java
+++ b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/chatcommands/ChatCommandsPlugin.java
@@ -536,6 +536,13 @@ public class ChatCommandsPlugin extends Plugin implements ChatboxInputListener
 		try
 		{
 			final SingleHiscoreSkillResult result = hiscoreClient.lookup(lookup.getName(), skill, lookup.getEndpoint());
+
+			if (result == null)
+			{
+				log.warn("unable to look up skill {} for {}: not found", skill, search);
+				return;
+			}
+
 			final Skill hiscoreSkill = result.getSkill();
 
 			final String response = new ChatMessageBuilder()
@@ -581,6 +588,12 @@ public class ChatCommandsPlugin extends Plugin implements ChatboxInputListener
 		{
 			HiscoreResult playerStats = hiscoreClient.lookup(player);
 
+			if (playerStats == null)
+			{
+				log.warn("Error fetching hiscore data: not found");
+				return;
+			}
+
 			int attack = playerStats.getAttack().getLevel();
 			int strength = playerStats.getStrength().getLevel();
 			int defence = playerStats.getDefence().getLevel();
@@ -650,6 +663,13 @@ public class ChatCommandsPlugin extends Plugin implements ChatboxInputListener
 		{
 			final Skill hiscoreSkill;
 			final HiscoreResult result = hiscoreClient.lookup(lookup.getName(), lookup.getEndpoint());
+
+			if (result == null)
+			{
+				log.warn("error looking up clues: not found");
+				return;
+			}
+
 			String level = search.toLowerCase();
 
 			switch (level)