diff --git a/packages/api/src/resolvers/article/index.ts b/packages/api/src/resolvers/article/index.ts
index 0d46ef642..157e4b489 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/resolvers/article/index.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/resolvers/article/index.ts
@@ -948,9 +948,13 @@ export const searchResolver = authorized<
     if (params.includeContent && r.content) {
       // convert html to the requested format
       const format = params.format || ArticleFormat.Html
-      const converter = contentConverter(format)
-      if (converter) {
-        r.content = converter(r.content, r.highlights)
+      try {
+        const converter = contentConverter(format)
+        if (converter) {
+          r.content = converter(r.content, r.highlights)
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.log('Error converting content', error)
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/api/src/utils/parser.ts b/packages/api/src/utils/parser.ts
index ed57f5eb7..d3f05c1d2 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/utils/parser.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/utils/parser.ts
@@ -609,11 +609,24 @@ export const htmlToHighlightedMarkdown = (
   html: string,
   highlights?: Highlight[]
 ): string => {
-  if (!highlights) {
+  if (!highlights || highlights.length == 0) {
+    return nhm.translate(/* html */ html)
+  }
+
+  let document: Document
+
+  try {
+    document = parseHTML(html).document
+
+    if (!document || !document.documentElement) {
+      // the html is invalid
+      throw new Error('Invalid html content')
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.log(err)
     return nhm.translate(/* html */ html)
   }
 
-  const document = parseHTML(html).document
   // wrap highlights in special tags
   highlights
     .filter((h) => h.type == 'HIGHLIGHT' && h.patch)