diff --git a/rowers/dataprep.py b/rowers/dataprep.py
index ba78268e..e18c8c8b 100644
--- a/rowers/dataprep.py
+++ b/rowers/dataprep.py
@@ -590,9 +590,12 @@ def handle_nonpainsled(f2,fileformat,summary=''):
     # handle FIT
     if (fileformat == 'fit'):
 	row = FITParser(f2)
-	s = fitsummarydata(f2)
-	s.setsummary()
-	summary = s.summarytext
+        try:
+	    s = fitsummarydata(f2)
+            s.setsummary()
+	    summary = s.summarytext
+        except:
+            pass
 
 
     f_to_be_deleted = f2
diff --git a/rowers/utils.py b/rowers/utils.py
index b78310cd..17dfffe6 100644
--- a/rowers/utils.py
+++ b/rowers/utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import numpy as np
 
 lbstoN = 4.44822
 
+def str2bool(v):
+  return v.lower() in ("yes", "true", "t", "1")
+
 def uniqify(seq, idfun=None): 
    # order preserving
    if idfun is None:
diff --git a/rowers/views.py b/rowers/views.py
index a65a15af..1bca40db 100644
--- a/rowers/views.py
+++ b/rowers/views.py
@@ -267,7 +267,11 @@ def splitstdata(lijst):
 
     return [np.array(t),np.array(latlong)]
 	
-from utils import geo_distance,serialize_list,deserialize_list,uniqify
+from utils import (
+    geo_distance,serialize_list,deserialize_list,uniqify,
+    str2bool
+    )
+
 from rowers.models import checkworkoutuser
 
 # Check if a user is a Coach member
@@ -4401,7 +4405,7 @@ def workout_stats_view(request,id=0,message="",successmessage=""):
 
     workstrokesonly = True
     if request.method == 'POST' and 'workstrokesonly' in request.POST:
-        workstrokesonly = request.POST['workstrokesonly']
+        workstrokesonly = str2bool(request.POST['workstrokesonly'])
 
 
     # prepare data frame