diff --git a/ts/smartstatus.classes.http.ts b/ts/smartstatus.classes.http.ts
index bf8eeef..533e5b3 100644
--- a/ts/smartstatus.classes.http.ts
+++ b/ts/smartstatus.classes.http.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,11 @@ export class HttpStatus {
       statusInstance = new HttpStatus.statusMap[codeStringArg]();
     } catch {
       console.log('unknown status')
-      return null;
+      return new HttpStatus({
+        code: 0,
+        text: 'unknown status',
+        description: `The status ${codeStringArg} is not known.` 
+      });
     }
     return statusInstance;
   }