diff --git a/src/ts/chat-parser.ts b/src/ts/chat-parser.ts
index c0dc474a..60f3758d 100644
--- a/src/ts/chat-parser.ts
+++ b/src/ts/chat-parser.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ const parseAddChatItemAction = (action: Ytc.AddChatItemAction, isReplay = false,
 
   const item: Ytc.ParsedMessage = {
     author: {
-      name: renderer.authorName.simpleText,
+      // It's apparently possible for there to be no author name (and only an author photo).
+      name: renderer.authorName?.simpleText ?? '',
       id: renderer.authorExternalChannelId,
       types: authorTypes,
       customBadge
@@ -223,12 +224,17 @@ export const parseChatResponse = (response: string, isReplay: boolean): Ytc.Pars
   actionsArray.forEach((action) => {
     let parsedAction: Ytc.ParsedAction | undefined;
 
-    if (action.replayChatItemAction) {
-      const replayAction = action.replayChatItemAction;
-      const replayTimeMs = parseInt(replayAction.videoOffsetTimeMsec);
-      parsedAction = processCommonAction(replayAction.actions[0], isReplay, replayTimeMs);
-    } else {
-      parsedAction = processLiveAction(action, isReplay, liveTimeoutMs);
+    try {
+      if (action.replayChatItemAction) {
+        const replayAction = action.replayChatItemAction;
+        const replayTimeMs = parseInt(replayAction.videoOffsetTimeMsec);
+        parsedAction = processCommonAction(replayAction.actions[0], isReplay, replayTimeMs);
+      } else {
+        parsedAction = processLiveAction(action, isReplay, liveTimeoutMs);
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Failed to parse action:', action);
+      throw error;
     }
 
     if (!parsedAction) {
diff --git a/src/ts/typings/ytc.d.ts b/src/ts/typings/ytc.d.ts
index 4e3efde2..73517570 100644
--- a/src/ts/typings/ytc.d.ts
+++ b/src/ts/typings/ytc.d.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ declare namespace Ytc {
 
   interface TextMessageRenderer {
     message?: RunsObj;
-    authorName: SimpleTextObj;
+    authorName?: SimpleTextObj;
     authorBadges?: Array<{
       liveChatAuthorBadgeRenderer: {
         /** Changes based on YT language */