diff --git a/handlers/elements.go b/handlers/elements.go
index cc5f90a..c5659af 100644
--- a/handlers/elements.go
+++ b/handlers/elements.go
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ func HandleShowColor(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// get room by room-id
 	room, err := getRoomByID(session.CurrentRoom)
 	if err != nil {
-		// handle err; ai!
+		log.Error("failed to get room", "error", err)
+		abortWithError(w, "failed to get room")
+		return
 	}
 	color, exists := roundWords[word]
 	log.Debug("got show-color request", "word", word, "color", color)