diff --git a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.java b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.java
index 5c97d30e8..4a5329ac5 100644
--- a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.java
+++ b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/activity/Reading.java
@@ -352,7 +352,11 @@ public abstract class Reading extends NbActivity implements OnPageChangeListener
 		} else if (item.getItemId() == R.id.menu_reading_original) {
             Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
             i.setData(Uri.parse(story.permalink));
-            startActivity(i);
+            try {
+                startActivity(i);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                android.util.Log.wtf(this.getClass().getName(), "device cannot open URLs");
+            }
 			return true;
 		} else if (item.getItemId() == R.id.menu_reading_sharenewsblur) {
             DialogFragment newFragment = ShareDialogFragment.newInstance(story, readingAdapter.getSourceUserId());
diff --git a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/fragment/ReadingItemFragment.java b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/fragment/ReadingItemFragment.java
index 78d4ff11a..cc6898c3c 100644
--- a/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/fragment/ReadingItemFragment.java
+++ b/clients/android/NewsBlur/src/com/newsblur/fragment/ReadingItemFragment.java
@@ -251,7 +251,11 @@ public class ReadingItemFragment extends NbFragment implements ClassifierDialogF
                     public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int id) {
                         Intent i = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                         i.setData(Uri.parse(finalURL));
-                        startActivity(i);
+                        try {
+                            startActivity(i);
+                        } catch (Exception e) {
+                            android.util.Log.wtf(this.getClass().getName(), "device cannot open URLs");
+                        }
                     }
                 });
                 builder.setNegativeButton(R.string.alert_dialog_done, new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {