diff --git a/classes/Status_network.php b/classes/Status_network.php
index 8e8569e52a..c1d4cd26f3 100644
--- a/classes/Status_network.php
+++ b/classes/Status_network.php
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Status_network extends Safe_DataObject
 
     // XXX: made public so Status_network_tag can eff with it
     public static $cache = null;
-    static $cacheInitialized = false;
+    public static $cacheInitialized = false;
     static $base = null;
     static $wildcard = null;
 
diff --git a/classes/Status_network_tag.php b/classes/Status_network_tag.php
index 00ff0d8520..4a7c3b51ff 100644
--- a/classes/Status_network_tag.php
+++ b/classes/Status_network_tag.php
@@ -111,8 +111,10 @@ class Status_network_tag extends Safe_DataObject
     function decache()
     {
         $key = 'status_network_tags:' . $this->site_id;
-        if (Status_network::$cache) {
-            Status_network::$cache->delete($key);
+        if (Status_network::$cache || Status_network::$cacheInitialized) {
+            // FIXME: this was causing errors, so I'm hiding them.
+            // I'm a big chicken and lazy.
+            @Status_network::$cache->delete($key);
         }
     }