diff --git a/backend/src/index.js b/backend/src/index.js
index 6bb5b1f6..bc17d12c 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.js
+++ b/backend/src/index.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, '../../frontend/build')));
 
 // Bible data directories
 const ESV_DATA_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../../bible-data'); // ESV from mdbible
-const NKJV_DATA_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../NKJV'); // NKJV local files
+const NKJV_DATA_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '../../NKJV'); // NKJV local files
 
 // Initialize search engines for each version
 const esvSearchEngine = ESV_DATA_DIR ? new BibleSearchEngine(ESV_DATA_DIR) : null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 04cfa992..a6e4da6d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ function App() {
     );
   };
 
-  if (loading) {
+  if (loading || !books) {
     return (
       <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center">
         <div className="text-center">