diff --git a/bebop/metalines.py b/bebop/metalines.py
index bc4163b..730053c 100644
--- a/bebop/metalines.py
+++ b/bebop/metalines.py
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 In Bebop we use a list of elements as produced by our parser. These elements are
 converted into so-called "metalines", which are the text lines as they will be
 displayed, along with associated meta-data such as its type or a link's URL.
+
+Note that metalines can be generated by custom functions without relying on the
+elements classes as they are quite coupled to Gemtext parsing/rendering.
 """
 
 import string
@@ -33,6 +36,7 @@ class LineType(IntEnum):
     PREFORMATTED = 6
     BLOCKQUOTE = 7
     LIST_ITEM = 8
+    ERROR = 9  # Not part of Gemtext but useful internally.
 
 
 def generate_metalines(elements, width, dumb=False):
diff --git a/bebop/rendering.py b/bebop/rendering.py
index bbb572a..3a3055d 100644
--- a/bebop/rendering.py
+++ b/bebop/rendering.py
@@ -70,5 +70,7 @@ def get_base_line_attributes(line_type) -> int:
         return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.PREFORMATTED)
     elif line_type == LineType.BLOCKQUOTE:
         return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.BLOCKQUOTE) | A_ITALIC
+    elif line_type == LineType.ERROR:
+        return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.ERROR) | curses.A_BOLD
     else:  # includes LineType.PARAGRAPH
         return curses.color_pair(ColorPair.NORMAL)
diff --git a/plugins/gopher/bebop_gopher/plugin.py b/plugins/gopher/bebop_gopher/plugin.py
index 49ec1da..ce76a6e 100644
--- a/plugins/gopher/bebop_gopher/plugin.py
+++ b/plugins/gopher/bebop_gopher/plugin.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ USER_FRIENDLY_TYPES = {t.name.lower(): t for t in ItemType}
 ICONS = {
     ItemType.FILE: "📄",
     ItemType.DIR: "📂",
-    ItemType.ERROR: "❌",
     ItemType.SEARCH: "✍ ",
     ItemType.HTML: "🌐",
 }
@@ -256,19 +255,26 @@ def parse_source(source: str, item_type: ItemType):
                 break
 
             parts = tline.split("\t")
-            if len(parts) != 4:
-                # TODO move me away
-                # Does not seem to be split by tabs, may be a file.
-                metalines.append(({"type": LineType.PARAGRAPH}, line))
-                continue
+            # If the map is poorly formatted and parts are missing, pad with
+            # empty parts.
+            while len(parts) < 4:
+                parts.append("")
 
             item_type = ItemType(ltype)
             label, path, host, port = parts
+
+            # INFO: render as a simple text line.
             if item_type == ItemType.INFO:
-                meta = {"type": LineType.PARAGRAPH}
-                metalines.append((meta, label))
+                metalines.append(({"type": LineType.PARAGRAPH}, label))
+                continue
+
+            # ERROR: render as an error line.
+            if item_type == ItemType.ERROR:
+                metalines.append(({"type": LineType.ERROR}, label))
                 continue
 
+            # Other item types are rendered as links, with a special case for
+            # "URL:"-type selectors in HTML items.
             if item_type == ItemType.HTML and path[:4].upper() == "URL:":
                 link_url = path[4:]
             else: