diff --git a/blenderkit/ui_panels.py b/blenderkit/ui_panels.py
index 60e749e5bd2ecc01e171c46e881b1ee06378b213..abf4fc977ac5977771155b36eee6996ed7d5f004 100644
--- a/blenderkit/ui_panels.py
+++ b/blenderkit/ui_panels.py
@@ -468,11 +468,11 @@ class VIEW3D_PT_blenderkit_ratings(Panel):
         layout = self.layout
         assets = ratings.get_assets_for_rating()
         if len(assets) > 0:
-            layout.label(text='Help BlenderKit community')
-            layout.label(text='by rating these assets:')
+            utils.label_multiline(layout, text='Please help BlenderKit community by rating these assets:')
 
             for a in assets:
-                draw_rating_asset(self, context, asset=a)
+                if a.bkit_ratings.rating_work_hours==0:
+                    draw_rating_asset(self, context, asset=a)
 
 
 def draw_login_progress(layout):
diff --git a/blenderkit/utils.py b/blenderkit/utils.py
index 96b547b12392ea2c3b5adef6562037bde2d78f17..36bf1fc91a5c50fe8dad2039e4d189fc51a84446 100644
--- a/blenderkit/utils.py
+++ b/blenderkit/utils.py
@@ -233,11 +233,15 @@ def load_prefs():
     # if user_preferences.api_key == '':
     fpath = paths.BLENDERKIT_SETTINGS_FILENAME
     if os.path.exists(fpath):
-        with open(fpath, 'r') as s:
-            prefs = json.load(s)
-            user_preferences.api_key = prefs.get('API_key', '')
-            user_preferences.global_dir = prefs.get('global_dir', paths.default_global_dict())
-            user_preferences.api_key_refresh = prefs.get('API_key_refresh', '')
+        try:
+            with open(fpath, 'r') as s:
+                prefs = json.load(s)
+                user_preferences.api_key = prefs.get('API_key', '')
+                user_preferences.global_dir = prefs.get('global_dir', paths.default_global_dict())
+                user_preferences.api_key_refresh = prefs.get('API_key_refresh', '')
+        except Exception as e:
+            print('failed to read addon preferences.')
+            print(e)
 
 
 def save_prefs(self, context):