diff --git a/nboost/maps.py b/nboost/maps.py
index 6b2c1b3d..695fa4ad 100644
--- a/nboost/maps.py
+++ b/nboost/maps.py
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@
         'topk_path': '(body.size) | (url.query.size)',
         'true_cids_path': 'body.nboost.cids',
         'choices_path': 'body.hits.hits',
-        'cvalues_path': '[*]._source.*',
-        'cids_path': '[*]._id',
+        'cvalues_path': '_source.*',
+        'cids_path': '_id',
         'capture_path': '/.*/_search',
         'default_topk': 10
     }
diff --git a/nboost/proxy.py b/nboost/proxy.py
index 07ab767f..a9add605 100644
--- a/nboost/proxy.py
+++ b/nboost/proxy.py
@@ -320,13 +320,17 @@ def get_request_paths(request, configs) -> Tuple[str, int, list]:
     def get_response_paths(response, configs) -> Tuple[list, list, list]:
         """Get the request jsonpaths noted in the configs"""
         choices = get_jsonpath(response, configs['choices_path'])
+
+        if not isinstance(choices, list):
+            raise InvalidChoices('choices were not a list')
+
         choices = flatten(choices)
-        cids = get_jsonpath(choices, configs['cids_path'])
-        cvalues = get_jsonpath(choices, configs['cvalues_path'])
+        cids = get_jsonpath(choices, '[*].' + configs['cids_path'])
+        cvalues = get_jsonpath(choices, '[*].' + configs['cvalues_path'])
 
         # check for errors
         if not len(choices) == len(cids) == len(cvalues):
-            raise InvalidChoices
+            raise InvalidChoices('number of choices, cids, and cvalues differ')
 
         return choices, cids, cvalues
 
@@ -401,8 +405,8 @@ def loop(self, client_socket: socket.socket, address: Tuple[str, str]):
             self.proxy_send(client_socket, server_socket, buffer)
             self.proxy_recv(client_socket, server_socket)
 
-        except InvalidChoices:
-            self.logger.warning('Request (%s:%s): invalid choices', *address)
+        except InvalidChoices as exc:
+            self.logger.warning('Request (%s:%s): %s', *address, *exc.args)
             self.proxy_send(client_socket, server_socket, buffer)
             self.proxy_recv(client_socket, server_socket)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_config_map.py b/tests/test_config_map.py
index 52754fba..a8533b73 100644
--- a/tests/test_config_map.py
+++ b/tests/test_config_map.py
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ def test_response_1(self):
         choices = flatten(choices)
         self.assertEqual(1.4, choices[0]['_score'])
 
-        cvalues = get_jsonpath(choices, config['cvalues_path'])
+        cvalues = get_jsonpath(choices, '[*].' + config['cvalues_path'])
         self.assertEqual(["trying out Elasticsearch", "second result", "third result"], cvalues)
 
-        cids = get_jsonpath(choices, config['cids_path'])
+        cids = get_jsonpath(choices, '[*].' + config['cids_path'])
         self.assertEqual(['0', '1', '2'], cids)