diff --git a/pype/maya/lib.py b/pype/maya/lib.py
index 28c57bbcdb..5f060cef73 100644
--- a/pype/maya/lib.py
+++ b/pype/maya/lib.py
@@ -2469,7 +2469,7 @@ class RenderSetupListObserver:
         if not render_set:
             return
 
-        members = cmds.sets(render_set, query=True)
+        members = cmds.sets(render_set, query=True) or []
         if not "LAYER_{}".format(layer_name) in members:
             print("  - creating set for {}".format(layer_name))
             set = cmds.sets(n="LAYER_{}".format(layer_name))
diff --git a/pype/plugins/maya/create/create_render.py b/pype/plugins/maya/create/create_render.py
index f847b8add5..e3c97c5c2c 100644
--- a/pype/plugins/maya/create/create_render.py
+++ b/pype/plugins/maya/create/create_render.py
@@ -78,7 +78,12 @@ class CreateRender(avalon.maya.Creator):
             self.log.warning("Deadline REST API url not found.")
         else:
             argument = "{}/api/pools?NamesOnly=true".format(deadline_url)
-            response = self._requests_get(argument)
+            try:
+                response = self._requests_get(argument)
+            except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError as e:
+                msg = 'Cannot connect to deadline web service'
+                self.log.error(msg)
+                raise RuntimeError('{} - {}'.format(msg, e))
             if not response.ok:
                 self.log.warning("No pools retrieved")
             else: