diff --git a/src/lib.go b/src/lib.go
index 5feac8d..da6896c 100644
--- a/src/lib.go
+++ b/src/lib.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func toRecord(data []byte) Record {
 	rec.deleted = NO
 	if strings.HasPrefix(ss, "INIT") {
 		rec.deleted = INIT
-		ss = ss[3:]
+		ss = ss[4:]
 	} else if strings.HasPrefix(ss, "DELETED") {
 		rec.deleted = SOFT
 		ss = ss[7:]
diff --git a/src/server.go b/src/server.go
index 0434c14..cb33569 100644
--- a/src/server.go
+++ b/src/server.go
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ func (a *App) WriteToReplicas(key []byte, value io.Reader, valuelen int64) int {
 		if remote_put(remote, valuelen, body) != nil {
 			// we assume the remote wrote nothing if it failed
 			fmt.Printf("replica %d write failed: %s\n", i, remote)
-			// try not to leave key in INIT (writing) state
-			a.PutRecord(key, Record{kvolumes, SOFT, hash})
+			// try not to leave key in INIT (writing) state (ignore errors)
+			a.PutRecord(key, Record{kvolumes, SOFT, ""})
 			return 500
 		}
 	}