diff --git a/plugins/talks.py b/plugins/talks.py
index 1085b11..8c55b42 100644
--- a/plugins/talks.py
+++ b/plugins/talks.py
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ def get_talk_data(talkname):
     if not os.path.isfile(fname):
         return None
     with io.open(fname, encoding='utf8') as buf:
-        data = yaml.load(buf)
+        try:
+            data = yaml.load(buf)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logging.exception("Syntax error reading %s; skipping", fname)
+            return None
     if data is None:
         return None
     if 'title' not in data:
@@ -60,13 +64,14 @@ def get_talk_data(talkname):
         logging.warn("Talk <{}> has no `text` field".format(talkname))
         data['text'] = ''
     if 'duration' not in data:
-        logging.info("Talk <{}> has no `duration` field".format(talkname))
+        logging.info("Talk <{}> has no `duration` field (50min used)"
+                     .format(talkname))
         data['duration'] = 50
     data['duration'] = int(data['duration'])
     if 'room' not in data:
         logging.warn("Talk <{}> has no `room` field".format(talkname))
     if 'time' not in data or 'day' not in data:
-        logging.error("Talk <{}> has no `time` or `day`".format(talkname))
+        logging.warn("Talk <{}> has no `time` or `day`".format(talkname))
     if 'time' in data:
         timeparts = re.findall(r'\d+', str(data['time']))
         if 4 > len(timeparts) > 0: