diff --git a/hud/agents/base.py b/hud/agents/base.py
index e6c25b46a..89f656e33 100644
--- a/hud/agents/base.py
+++ b/hud/agents/base.py
@@ -937,11 +937,13 @@ def find_reward(result: MCPToolResult) -> float:
             if isinstance(content, types.TextContent):
                 try:
                     json_content = json.loads(content.text)
-                    for key, value in json_content.items():
-                        if key in accept_keys:
-                            return value
                 except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                    pass
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(json_content, dict):
+                    continue
+                for key, value in json_content.items():
+                    if key in accept_keys:
+                        return value
 
     logger.error("Couldn't parse reward from result: %s", str(result.structuredContent))
     return 0.0
@@ -963,9 +965,11 @@ def find_content(result: MCPToolResult) -> str | None:
             if isinstance(content, types.TextContent):
                 try:
                     json_content = json.loads(content.text)
-                    for key, value in json_content.items():
-                        if key in accept_keys:
-                            return value
                 except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                    pass
+                    continue
+                if not isinstance(json_content, dict):
+                    continue
+                for key, value in json_content.items():
+                    if key in accept_keys:
+                        return value
     return ""
diff --git a/hud/shared/exceptions.py b/hud/shared/exceptions.py
index 186e7ca8b..04d1f5386 100644
--- a/hud/shared/exceptions.py
+++ b/hud/shared/exceptions.py
@@ -266,19 +266,19 @@ def from_httpx_error(cls, error: httpx.HTTPStatusError, context: str = "") -> Se
 
         # Try to get detailed error info from JSON if available
         response_json = None
+        message = f"Request failed with status {status_code}"
         try:
-            response_json = response.json()
+            parsed = response.json()
+        except Exception:
+            parsed = None
+        if isinstance(parsed, dict):
+            response_json = parsed
             detail = response_json.get("detail")
             if detail:
                 message = f"Request failed: {detail}"
-            else:
-                # If no detail field but we have JSON, include a summary
-                message = f"Request failed with status {status_code}"
-                if len(response_json) <= 5:  # If it's a small object, include it in the message
-                    message += f" - JSON response: {response_json}"
-        except Exception:
-            # Fallback to simple message if JSON parsing fails
-            message = f"Request failed with status {status_code}"
+            elif len(response_json) <= 5:
+                # Small object — include it in the message
+                message += f" - JSON response: {response_json}"
 
         # Add context if provided
         if context: