diff --git a/public/scripts/extensions/expressions/index.js b/public/scripts/extensions/expressions/index.js
index fcf5013f1..13f958455 100644
--- a/public/scripts/extensions/expressions/index.js
+++ b/public/scripts/extensions/expressions/index.js
@@ -1109,39 +1109,39 @@ async function setExpression(character, expression, force) {
         document.getElementById('expression-holder').style.display = '';
 
     } else {
-
-
-        talkingHeadCheck().then(result => {
+        // Set the talkinghead emotion to the specified expression
+        // TODO: For now, talkinghead emote only supported when VN mode is off; see also updateVisualNovelMode.
+        try
+        {
+            let result = await talkingHeadCheck();
             if (result) {
-                // Set the talkinghead emotion to the specified expression
-                // TODO: For now, talkinghead emote only supported when VN mode is off; see also updateVisualNovelMode.
                 const url = new URL(getApiUrl());
                 url.pathname = '/api/talkinghead/set_emotion';
-                doExtrasFetch(url, {
+                await doExtrasFetch(url, {
                     method: 'POST',
                     headers: {
                         'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                     },
                     body: JSON.stringify({ emotion_name: expression }),
-                })
-                    .then(response => {
-                        // Find the <img> element with id="expression-image" and class="expression"
-                        const imgElement = document.querySelector('img#expression-image.expression');
-                        //console.log("searching");
-                        if (imgElement && imgElement instanceof HTMLImageElement) {
-                            //console.log("setting value");
-                            imgElement.src = getApiUrl() + '/api/talkinghead/result_feed';
-                        }
-                    })
-                    .catch(error => {
-                        console.error(error);
-                    })
-            } else {
-                //console.log("The fetch failed!");
+                });
             }
-        });
-
+        }
+        catch (error) {
+            // `set_emotion` is not present in old versions, so let it 404.
+        }
 
+        try {
+            // Find the <img> element with id="expression-image" and class="expression"
+            const imgElement = document.querySelector('img#expression-image.expression');
+            //console.log("searching");
+            if (imgElement && imgElement instanceof HTMLImageElement) {
+                //console.log("setting value");
+                imgElement.src = getApiUrl() + '/api/talkinghead/result_feed';
+            }
+        }
+        catch (error) {
+            //console.log("The fetch failed!");
+        }
     }
 }