diff --git a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/launchcmd.py b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/launchcmd.py
index 6d35da3ed6..c69c1d26a5 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/launchcmd.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/launchcmd.py
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@ def _option_list(*suboptions):
 
     xymap_data = xyzgrid.grid
     if not xymap_data:
-        print("The XYZgrid is currently empty. Use 'add' to add paths to your map data.")
+        if xyzgrid.db.map_data:
+            print("Grid could not load due to errors.")
+        else:
+            print("The XYZgrid is currently empty. Use 'add' to add paths to your map data.")
         return
 
     if not suboptions:
@@ -265,7 +268,12 @@ def _option_add(*suboptions):
         print(f" XYMaps from {path}:\n {mapnames}")
         xymap_data_list.extend(maps)
     grid.add_maps(*xymap_data_list)
-    print(f"Added (or readded) {len(xymap_data_list)} XYMaps to grid.")
+    try:
+        grid.reload()
+    except Exception as err:
+        print(err)
+    else:
+        print(f"Added (or readded) {len(xymap_data_list)} XYMaps to grid.")
 
 
 def _option_spawn(*suboptions):
diff --git a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xymap.py b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xymap.py
index dbe01a7f99..c02df9448c 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xymap.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xymap.py
@@ -256,8 +256,10 @@ class XYMap:
         return "\n".join("".join(line) for line in self.display_map[::-1])
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return (f"<XYMap(Z={self.Z}), {self.max_X + 1}x{self.max_Y + 1}, "
-                f"{len(self.node_index_map)} nodes>")
+        nnodes = 0
+        if self.node_index_map:
+            nnodes = len(self.node_index_map)
+        return (f"<XYMap(Z={self.Z}), {self.max_X + 1}x{self.max_Y + 1}, {nnodes} nodes>")
 
     def log(self, msg):
         if self.xyzgrid:
diff --git a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xyzgrid.py b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xyzgrid.py
index 152efd1b75..1b20a099b1 100644
--- a/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xyzgrid.py
+++ b/evennia/contrib/xyzgrid/xyzgrid.py
@@ -266,11 +266,14 @@ class XYZGrid(DefaultScript):
             xymap.spawn_links(xy=(x, y), directions=directions)
 
 
-def get_xyzgrid():
+def get_xyzgrid(print_errors=True):
     """
     Helper for getting the grid. This will create the XYZGrid global script if it didn't
     previously exist.
 
+    Args:
+        print_errors (bool, optional): Print errors directly to console rather than to log.
+
     """
     xyzgrid = XYZGrid.objects.all()
     if not xyzgrid:
@@ -288,5 +291,8 @@ def get_xyzgrid():
         if not xyzgrid.ndb.loaded:
             xyzgrid.reload()
     except Exception as err:
-        xyzgrid.log(str(err))
+        if print_errors:
+            print(err)
+        else:
+            xyzgrid.log(str(err))
     return xyzgrid