diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 3c23326..2897650 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Package: sbtools
 Title: USGS ScienceBase Tools
 Maintainer: David Blodgett <dblodgett@usgs.gov>
-Version: 1.1.15
+Version: 1.1.16
 Authors@R: c(person("David", "Blodgett", role=c("cre"),
     email = "dblodgett@usgs.gov"),
     person("Luke", "Winslow", role = c("aut"),
diff --git a/R/REST_helpers.R b/R/REST_helpers.R
index 1442284..6516e0d 100644
--- a/R/REST_helpers.R
+++ b/R/REST_helpers.R
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ sbtools_POST <- function(url, body, ..., session){
 	
 	r = POST(url=url, ..., httrUserAgent(), accept_json(), body=body, handle=session, 
 					 timeout = httr::timeout(default_timeout())) 
-	handle_errors(r, url, "POST", supported_types)	
+	r <- handle_errors(r, url, "POST", supported_types)	
 	# if (!strsplit(headers(r)[['content-type']], '[;]')[[1]][1] %in% supported_types)
 	# 	stop('POST failed to ',url,'. check authorization and/or content')
 	
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ sbtools_GET <- function(url, ..., session = NULL) {
 																		"error was:\n", e))
 																 return(list(status = 404))
 	})
-	handle_errors(r, url, "GET", supported_types)
+	r <- handle_errors(r, url, "GET", supported_types)
 	session_age_reset()
 	return(r)
 }
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ sbtools_GET <- function(url, ..., session = NULL) {
 #' @keywords internal
 sbtools_PUT <- function(url, body, ..., session) {
 	check_session(session)
-	r = PUT(url = url, ..., httrUserAgent(), body = body, handle = session, timeout = httr::timeout(default_timeout()))
-	handle_errors(r, url, "PUT", NULL)
+	r <- PUT(url = url, ..., httrUserAgent(), body = body, handle = session, timeout = httr::timeout(default_timeout()))
+	r <- handle_errors(r, url, "PUT", NULL)
 	session_age_reset()
 	return(r)
 }
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ sbtools_DELETE <- function(url, ..., session) {
 	check_session(session)
 	r = DELETE(url = url, ..., httrUserAgent(), accept_json(), 
 						 handle = session, timeout = httr::timeout(default_timeout()))
-	handle_errors(r, url, "DELETE", NULL)
+	r <- handle_errors(r, url, "DELETE", NULL)
 	session_age_reset()
 	return(r)
 }
@@ -123,13 +123,24 @@ handle_errors <- function(x, url, method, types) {
 	
 	if (!is.null(types)) {
 		if (!strsplit(headers(x)[['content-type']], '[;]')[[1]][1] %in% types) {
-			stop(method, ' failed to ', url, '. check authorization and/or content', call. = FALSE)
+			message(method, ' failed to ', url, '. check authorization and/or content', call. = FALSE)
+			return(NULL)
 		}
 	}
 	
 	if ('errors' %in% names(content(x))) {
-		stop(content(x)$errors$message, call. = FALSE)
+		
+		if(length(errors <- content(x)$errors) == 1) {
+			message(errors$message, call. = FALSE)
+		} else {
+			message(paste(sapply(errors, function (x) x$message), collapse = "\n"), call. = FALSE)
+		}
+		
+		return(NULL)
 	}
+	
+	return(x)
+	
 }
 
 #' @importFrom curl curl_version
diff --git a/R/current_session.R b/R/current_session.R
index c1c6eb6..6f0489d 100644
--- a/R/current_session.R
+++ b/R/current_session.R
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@
 #' 
 #' 
 #' 
-#' @examples
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' 
 #' session = current_session()
 #' #null unless currently authenticated
 #' session
-#'
+#' }
 #'@export
 current_session = function(){
 	if(session_expired(pkg.env$session)){
diff --git a/R/identifier_exists.R b/R/identifier_exists.R
index 21fdd5c..206cd02 100644
--- a/R/identifier_exists.R
+++ b/R/identifier_exists.R
@@ -10,14 +10,13 @@
 #' @importFrom methods is
 #' 
 #' @return Logical, \code{TRUE} or \code{FALSE}
-#' @examples
-#' 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' # identifier exists
 #' identifier_exists(sb_id = "4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
 #' 
 #' # identifier does not exist
 #' identifier_exists(sb_id = "aaaaaaakkkkkkkbbbbbb")
-#' 
+#' }
 identifier_exists <- function(sb_id, ..., session = current_session()) {
 	#sb_id = as.sbitem(sb_id)
 	if(is(sb_id, 'sbitem')){
diff --git a/R/item_exists.R b/R/item_exists.R
index e13727a..4b01a91 100644
--- a/R/item_exists.R
+++ b/R/item_exists.R
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 #' @param session an SB session
 #' @return boolean for whether item exists
 #'
-#' @examples
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' item_exists('mda_streams','ts_doobs','nwis_01018035')
 #' item_exists('mda_streams','site_root','nwis_01018035')
 #' }
diff --git a/R/item_get.R b/R/item_get.R
index 9f4b3e8..e081d93 100644
--- a/R/item_get.R
+++ b/R/item_get.R
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 #' access is restricted due to permissions. 
 #' 
 #' 
-#' @examples 
-#' \donttest{
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' # Get an item
 #' item_get("4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
 #' 
@@ -35,6 +34,8 @@ get_item <- function(id, ..., session=current_session()) {
 	
 	if(is(res, "list")) {
 		if(res$status == 404) return(NULL)
+	} else if(is.null(res)) {
+		return(NULL)
 	}
 	
 	return(as.sbitem(content(res)))
diff --git a/R/item_get_fields.R b/R/item_get_fields.R
index 7dd53ca..d3c8252 100644
--- a/R/item_get_fields.R
+++ b/R/item_get_fields.R
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 #' @return List serialization of chosen metadata for an SB item
 #' @import httr
 #' @export
-#' @examples 
-#' \donttest{
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' # Get certain fields from an item
 #' item_get_fields("4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14", c('title', 'citation', 'contacts'))
 #' 
diff --git a/R/item_list_files.R b/R/item_list_files.R
index fea4665..52fb487 100644
--- a/R/item_list_files.R
+++ b/R/item_list_files.R
@@ -13,11 +13,9 @@
 #' files attached to an item and all children items.
 #'
 #' @export
-#' @examples 
-#' \donttest{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
+#' 
 #' item_list_files("4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
-#' }
-#' \dontrun{
 #' # list files recursively
 #' ## create item
 #' id <- item_create(user_id(), title="some title")
diff --git a/R/item_rename_files.R b/R/item_rename_files.R
index e9c7482..6ac1c7b 100644
--- a/R/item_rename_files.R
+++ b/R/item_rename_files.R
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 #' @param names List of names of files to rename
 #' @param new_names List of new file names to use
 #' 
-#' @examples 
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' 
 #' names = c('file1.txt', 'file2.txt')
 #' new_names = c('newname1.txt', 'newname2.txt')
diff --git a/R/item_update_identifier.R b/R/item_update_identifier.R
index eb53d15..79b73d9 100644
--- a/R/item_update_identifier.R
+++ b/R/item_update_identifier.R
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@
 #' \code{\link{query_item_identifier}} for finding items based on alternative
 #' identifier.
 #'  
-#' @examples
-#'
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #'
 #' session = authenticate_sb("user@@usgs.gov")
 #' item_update_identifier("5485fd99e4b02acb4f0c7e81", "scheme", "type", "key", session=session)
diff --git a/R/item_upload_files.R b/R/item_upload_files.R
index ed57d29..97c0a67 100644
--- a/R/item_upload_files.R
+++ b/R/item_upload_files.R
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ item_upload_create = function(parent_id, files, ..., scrape_files = TRUE, sessio
 #'
 #' @import httr
 #'
-#' @examples 
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' res <- item_create(user_id(), "testing 123")
 #' cat("foo bar", file = "foobar.txt")
 #' item_append_files(res$id, "foobar.txt")
@@ -71,6 +70,8 @@ item_append_files = function(sb_id, files, ..., scrape_files = TRUE, session=cur
 	
 	item <- as.sbitem(sb_id)
 	
+	if(is.null(item)) return(NULL)
+	
 	params <- paste0("?id=", item$id)
 	
 	if(!scrape_files) {
diff --git a/R/query_item_identifier.R b/R/query_item_identifier.R
index 43e4847..e30e85d 100644
--- a/R/query_item_identifier.R
+++ b/R/query_item_identifier.R
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 #' @import jsonlite
 #' @import httr
 #' 
-#' @examples 
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' authenticate_sb()
 #' 
 #' ex_item = item_create(title='identifier example')
diff --git a/R/query_sb.R b/R/query_sb.R
index baf1b32..b0ee566 100644
--- a/R/query_sb.R
+++ b/R/query_sb.R
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@
 #'  boxes and representational points. This is a alphanumeric string.
 #' }
 #' 
-#' @examples 
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' query_sb(list(q = "water"))
 #' 
 #' # Search by project status
diff --git a/R/query_sb_datatype.R b/R/query_sb_datatype.R
index 17726ed..95c7b1e 100644
--- a/R/query_sb_datatype.R
+++ b/R/query_sb_datatype.R
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 #' @description 
 #' Queries ScienceBase for items with matching datatype.
 #' 
-#' @examples 
-#' \donttest{
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #query for items with WFS Layer data
 #' query_sb_datatype('Static Map Image')
 #' 
@@ -40,10 +39,10 @@ query_sb_datatype = function(datatype, ..., limit=20, session=current_session())
 #' coupled with \code{\link{query_sb_datatype}} to query based on the type of data
 #' 
 #' 
-#' @examples 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #return all datatypes (limit 50 by default)
 #' sb_datatypes()
-#' 
+#' }
 #' 
 #' @export
 sb_datatypes = function(limit=50, session=current_session()){
diff --git a/R/query_sb_date.R b/R/query_sb_date.R
index 3c9cba7..afff899 100644
--- a/R/query_sb_date.R
+++ b/R/query_sb_date.R
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@
 #' @description 
 #' Queries ScienceBase for items with timestamps within a certain date/time range.
 #' 
-#' @examples
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' # find items updated today
 #' query_sb_date(Sys.time(), Sys.time())
 #' 
diff --git a/R/query_sb_doi.R b/R/query_sb_doi.R
index a278fe5..7c8c176 100644
--- a/R/query_sb_doi.R
+++ b/R/query_sb_doi.R
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 #' Queries for ScienceBase items with a specific DOI identifier. 
 #' In ScienceBase, these are stored as additional unique identifiers.
 #' 
-#' @examples 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #Two example DOI-specific queries
 #' query_sb_doi('10.5066/F7M043G7')
 #' 
 #' query_sb_doi('10.5066/F7Z60M35')
-#' 
+#' }
 #' @export
 query_sb_doi = function(doi, ..., limit=20, session=current_session()){
 	
diff --git a/R/query_sb_spatial.R b/R/query_sb_spatial.R
index f7ccb6b..bb9c934 100644
--- a/R/query_sb_spatial.R
+++ b/R/query_sb_spatial.R
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 #' (uses the spatial object's bounding box) or long/lat coordinates defining the bounding box limits. 
 #' 
 #' 
-#' @examples
-#' 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #specify the latitude and longitude points to define the bounding box range. 
 #' # This is simply bottom left and top right points
 #' query_sb_spatial(long=c(-104.4, -95.1), lat=c(37.5, 41.0), limit=3)
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@
 #' #use a pre-formatted WKT polygon to grab data
 #' query_sb_spatial(bb_wkt="POLYGON((-104.4 41.0,-95.1 41.0,-95.1 37.5,-104.4 37.5,-104.4 41.0))", 
 #' 	                limit=3)
-#' 
+#' }
 #' @export
 #' 
 query_sb_spatial = function(bbox, long, lat, bb_wkt, ..., limit=20, session=current_session()){
diff --git a/R/query_sb_text.R b/R/query_sb_text.R
index e316093..f1010df 100644
--- a/R/query_sb_text.R
+++ b/R/query_sb_text.R
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@
 #' Queries for ScienceBase items that have matching text in the title or 
 #' description
 #' 
-#' @examples 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #query for a person's name
 #' query_sb_text('Luna Leopold')
 #' 
 #' #query for one of the old river gaging stations
 #' query_sb_text('Lees Ferry')
-#' 
+#' }
 #' 
 #' @export
 query_sb_text = function(text, ..., limit=20, session=current_session()){
diff --git a/R/sb_ping.R b/R/sb_ping.R
index e6a6464..ee954ee 100644
--- a/R/sb_ping.R
+++ b/R/sb_ping.R
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 #' @param ... Additional parameters are passed on to \code{\link[httr]{GET}}
 #' @return Boolean (TRUE) indicating if a connection to ScienceBase can be established 
 #' and if it is responding as expected. FALSE otherwise. 
-#' @examples 
+#' @examples \donttest{
 #' #TRUE if all is well and SB can be contacted
 #' sb_ping()
-#' 
+#' }
 sb_ping <- function(...) {
 
 	tryCatch({
diff --git a/R/session_age.R b/R/session_age.R
index f378207..904e782 100644
--- a/R/session_age.R
+++ b/R/session_age.R
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 #' 
 #' @template manipulate_item
 #' @return difftime object
-#' @examples 
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' authenticate_sb('bbadger@@usgs.gov')
 #' sbtools::session_age()
 #' }
diff --git a/R/session_renew.R b/R/session_renew.R
index 4200c17..f40e55b 100644
--- a/R/session_renew.R
+++ b/R/session_renew.R
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 #'   
 #' @return Returns the session object.
 #'   
-#' @examples
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' # an empty call is sufficient if the session is current, 
 #' # but will break if haven't been logged in before
 #' session_renew()
diff --git a/R/session_validate.R b/R/session_validate.R
index 8b46d3f..f546031 100644
--- a/R/session_validate.R
+++ b/R/session_validate.R
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@
 #' 
 #' @importFrom methods new
 #' 
-#' @examples
-#' \dontrun{
+#' @examples \dontrun{
 #' session = authenticate_sb('user@@usgs.gov')
 #' 
 #' #return true as underlying RCurl session is valid
diff --git a/R/set_endpoint.R b/R/set_endpoint.R
index b6ca666..b48a626 100644
--- a/R/set_endpoint.R
+++ b/R/set_endpoint.R
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@
 #'
 #'@author Luke Winslow
 #'
-#'@examples
-#'
-#'\donttest{
+#'@examples \donttest{
 #'set_endpoint('prod')
 #'
 #'# getting item from production SB servers
diff --git a/man/current_session.Rd b/man/current_session.Rd
index 15f167c..1e3b8a8 100644
--- a/man/current_session.Rd
+++ b/man/current_session.Rd
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ is no authenticated session, returns NULL. Emits a
 warning if the session has expired.
 }
 \examples{
+\donttest{
 
 session = current_session()
 #null unless currently authenticated
 session
-
+}
 }
diff --git a/man/identifier_exists.Rd b/man/identifier_exists.Rd
index 10aefe1..0ceea59 100644
--- a/man/identifier_exists.Rd
+++ b/man/identifier_exists.Rd
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ This will also return \code{FALSE} if the identifier exists but is associated
 with an item that is unavailable due to permission restrictions.
 }
 \examples{
-
+\donttest{
 # identifier exists
 identifier_exists(sb_id = "4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
 
 # identifier does not exist
 identifier_exists(sb_id = "aaaaaaakkkkkkkbbbbbb")
-
+}
 }
diff --git a/man/item_list_files.Rd b/man/item_list_files.Rd
index 5ea5faa..f8d2bfe 100644
--- a/man/item_list_files.Rd
+++ b/man/item_list_files.Rd
@@ -27,10 +27,9 @@ using \code{\link{item_file_download}}. (advanced) Recursive options lists all
 files attached to an item and all children items.
 }
 \examples{
-\donttest{
-item_list_files("4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
-}
 \dontrun{
+
+item_list_files("4f4e4b24e4b07f02db6aea14")
 # list files recursively
 ## create item
 id <- item_create(user_id(), title="some title")
diff --git a/man/item_update_identifier.Rd b/man/item_update_identifier.Rd
index 15fc7b4..765cb1d 100644
--- a/man/item_update_identifier.Rd
+++ b/man/item_update_identifier.Rd
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ additional identifiers or update those already in place. See
 identifier.
 }
 \examples{
-
 \dontrun{
 
 session = authenticate_sb("user@usgs.gov")
diff --git a/man/query_sb_doi.Rd b/man/query_sb_doi.Rd
index 7b5aa67..d8c5526 100644
--- a/man/query_sb_doi.Rd
+++ b/man/query_sb_doi.Rd
@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ Queries for ScienceBase items with a specific DOI identifier.
 In ScienceBase, these are stored as additional unique identifiers.
 }
 \examples{
+\donttest{
 #Two example DOI-specific queries
 query_sb_doi('10.5066/F7M043G7')
 
 query_sb_doi('10.5066/F7Z60M35')
-
+}
 }
diff --git a/man/query_sb_spatial.Rd b/man/query_sb_spatial.Rd
index ff9fbcf..390f4cc 100644
--- a/man/query_sb_spatial.Rd
+++ b/man/query_sb_spatial.Rd
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Queries ScienceBase based on a spatial bounding box. Accepts either an sp spatia
 (uses the spatial object's bounding box) or long/lat coordinates defining the bounding box limits.
 }
 \examples{
-
+\donttest{
 #specify the latitude and longitude points to define the bounding box range. 
 # This is simply bottom left and top right points
 query_sb_spatial(long=c(-104.4, -95.1), lat=c(37.5, 41.0), limit=3)
@@ -44,5 +44,5 @@ query_sb_spatial(long=c(-104.4, -95.1), lat=c(37.5, 41.0), limit=3)
 #use a pre-formatted WKT polygon to grab data
 query_sb_spatial(bb_wkt="POLYGON((-104.4 41.0,-95.1 41.0,-95.1 37.5,-104.4 37.5,-104.4 41.0))", 
 	                limit=3)
-
+}
 }
diff --git a/man/query_sb_text.Rd b/man/query_sb_text.Rd
index 3a96a68..8bea702 100644
--- a/man/query_sb_text.Rd
+++ b/man/query_sb_text.Rd
@@ -26,11 +26,12 @@ Queries for ScienceBase items that have matching text in the title or
 description
 }
 \examples{
+\donttest{
 #query for a person's name
 query_sb_text('Luna Leopold')
 
 #query for one of the old river gaging stations
 query_sb_text('Lees Ferry')
-
+}
 
 }
diff --git a/man/sb_datatypes.Rd b/man/sb_datatypes.Rd
index fbc619a..b501947 100644
--- a/man/sb_datatypes.Rd
+++ b/man/sb_datatypes.Rd
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ Queries ScienceBase for the list of all available datatypes. This can be
 coupled with \code{\link{query_sb_datatype}} to query based on the type of data
 }
 \examples{
+\donttest{
 #return all datatypes (limit 50 by default)
 sb_datatypes()
-
+}
 
 }
diff --git a/man/sb_ping.Rd b/man/sb_ping.Rd
index 4b48307..036a330 100644
--- a/man/sb_ping.Rd
+++ b/man/sb_ping.Rd
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ and if it is responding as expected. FALSE otherwise.
 Ping ScienceBase to see if it's available
 }
 \examples{
+\donttest{
 #TRUE if all is well and SB can be contacted
 sb_ping()
-
+}
 }
diff --git a/man/set_endpoint.Rd b/man/set_endpoint.Rd
index 562eed0..2892671 100644
--- a/man/set_endpoint.Rd
+++ b/man/set_endpoint.Rd
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ Sets the internal URLS used to either the production
 or development (beta) SB server. URLS are stored internally to the package
 }
 \examples{
-
 \donttest{
 set_endpoint('prod')
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-REST.R b/tests/testthat/test-REST.R
index 6b54fcd..0dba9e2 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-REST.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-REST.R
@@ -4,16 +4,16 @@ test_that("generic post fails w/o auth", {
 	skip_on_cran()
 	
 	# auth fails locally:
-	expect_error(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", '/foo/bar/baz.zip'),'Item not found for')
+	expect_message(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", '/foo/bar/baz.zip'),'Item not found for')
 	session <- httr::handle("https://google.com")
 	attributes(session) <- c(attributes(session), list(birthdate=Sys.time()))
 	
 	# auth passes locally, but POST fails due to files not existing:
-	expect_error(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", '/foo/bar/baz.zip', session=session), 'Item not found for')
+	expect_message(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", '/foo/bar/baz.zip', session=session), 'Item not found for')
 	
 	# auth passes, and file is there, but auth fails on sciencebase.gov
 	files <- system.file('extdata',"This_works_new_extension.zip", package='sbtools')
-	expect_error(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", files, session=session), 
+	expect_message(item_append_files("54e265a4e4b08de9379b4dfb", files, session=session), 
 							 'Item not found for')
 })
 
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ test_that("generic get w/ and w/o auth", {
 	expect_is(item_get(public_item, session = session), 'sbitem')
 	
 	# 'not found' error for missing items, with or without login
-	expect_error(item_get(non_item, session = NULL), 'Item not found')
-	expect_error(item_get(non_item, session = session), 'Item not found')
+	expect_message(item_get(non_item, session = NULL), 'Item not found')
+	expect_message(item_get(non_item, session = session), 'Item not found')
 	
 })
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ test_that("REST_helpers tests", {
 	
 	item <- sbtools_GET("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5c4f4a04e4b0708288f78e07")
 
-	expect_error(sbtools_GET("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/a04e4b0708288f78e07"), 
+	expect_message(sbtools_GET("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/a04e4b0708288f78e07"), 
 							 "Invalid Item ID")
 	
 	expect_error(sbtools_GET("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/a04e4b0708288f78e07", session = list(session = "borked")),
@@ -62,5 +62,5 @@ test_that("REST_helpers tests", {
 
 	expect_equal(delete_test$status_code, 405)
 	
-	expect_error(post_test <- sbtools_POST("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5c4f4a04e4b0708288f78e07", "test", session = session))
+	expect_message(post_test <- sbtools_POST("https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5c4f4a04e4b0708288f78e07", "test", session = session))
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-auth.R b/tests/testthat/test-auth.R
index 76dc70a..c83f76e 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-auth.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-auth.R
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ test_that("item creation, identifiers, and file upload works", {
 	#remove the test item when done
 	item_rm(item)
 	
-	expect_error(item_get(item), 'Item not found*.')
+	expect_message(item_get(item), 'Item not found*.')
 	
 	expect_silent(session_logout())
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test_examples.R b/tests/testthat/test_examples.R
index 88b8e21..6ba750e 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test_examples.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test_examples.R
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ test_that("basic examples work", {
 	wfs_data <- item_get_wfs("58c988bce4b0849ce97b4845"),
 	"item_get_wfs is going to be removed in a future version of sbtools")
 	
-	expect_equal(as.character(class(wfs_data)), "SpatialPointsDataFrame")
+	wexpect_equal(as.character(class(wfs_data)), "SpatialPointsDataFrame")
 	
 	suppressWarnings(wfs_data <- item_get_wfs("58c988bce4b0849ce97b4845", as_sf = TRUE))