diff --git a/ldm/generate.py b/ldm/generate.py
index b21787eb47c..c3a69fd3a3f 100644
--- a/ldm/generate.py
+++ b/ldm/generate.py
@@ -570,16 +570,19 @@ def apply_postprocessor(
             from ldm.invoke.restoration.outcrop import Outcrop
             extend_instructions = {}
             for direction,pixels in _pairwise(opt.outcrop):
-                extend_instructions[direction]=int(pixels)
-
-            restorer = Outcrop(image,self,)
-            return restorer.process (
-                extend_instructions,
-                opt            = opt,
-                orig_opt       = args,
-                image_callback = callback,
-                prefix = prefix,
-            )
+                try:
+                    extend_instructions[direction]=int(pixels)
+                except ValueError:
+                    print(f'** invalid extension instruction. Use <directions> <pixels>..., as in "top 64 left 128 right 64 bottom 64"')
+            if len(extend_instructions)>0:
+                restorer = Outcrop(image,self,)
+                return restorer.process (
+                    extend_instructions,
+                    opt            = opt,
+                    orig_opt       = args,
+                    image_callback = callback,
+                    prefix = prefix,
+                )
 
         elif tool == 'embiggen':
             # fetch the metadata from the image
diff --git a/ldm/invoke/args.py b/ldm/invoke/args.py
index 26920f28ea9..3b87db5fd7c 100644
--- a/ldm/invoke/args.py
+++ b/ldm/invoke/args.py
@@ -967,17 +967,17 @@ def sha256(path):
     return sha.hexdigest()
 
 def legacy_metadata_load(meta,pathname) -> Args:
+    opt = Args()
     if 'Dream' in meta and len(meta['Dream']) > 0:
         dream_prompt = meta['Dream']
-        opt = Args()
         opt.parse_cmd(dream_prompt)
-        return opt
     else:               # if nothing else, we can get the seed
         match = re.search('\d+\.(\d+)',pathname)
         if match:
             seed = match.groups()[0]
-            opt = Args()
             opt.seed = seed
-            return opt
-    return None
+        else:
+            opt.prompt = ''
+            opt.seed = 0
+    return opt
             
diff --git a/scripts/invoke.py b/scripts/invoke.py
index 84b3835579a..bf6714e5249 100644
--- a/scripts/invoke.py
+++ b/scripts/invoke.py
@@ -598,7 +598,10 @@ def add_postprocessing_to_metadata(opt,original_file,new_file,tool,command):
     original_file = original_file if os.path.exists(original_file) else os.path.join(opt.outdir,original_file)
     new_file       = new_file     if os.path.exists(new_file)      else os.path.join(opt.outdir,new_file)
     meta = retrieve_metadata(original_file)['sd-metadata']
-    img_data = meta['image']
+    if 'image' not in meta:
+        meta = metadata_dumps(opt,seeds=[opt.seed])['image']
+        meta['image'] = {}
+    img_data = meta.get('image')
     pp = img_data.get('postprocessing',[]) or []
     pp.append(
         {