diff --git a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/ha_control.py b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/ha_control.py
index 903499f8..95c9ef0a 100644
--- a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/ha_control.py
+++ b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/ha_control.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ def calculate_dim_values(sleepTracking, sleepTrackingZones, sleepBrightness, scr
         elif isinstance(sleepBrightness, list):
             logging.error("list style config for sleepBrightness no longer supported")
         elif sleepBrightness.startswith("ha:"):
+            time.sleep(1)
             dimmode = int(float(libs.home_assistant.get_template(sleepBrightness)[3:]))
             involved_entities.extend(libs.home_assistant.get_template_listener_entities(sleepBrightness))
         elif libs.home_assistant.is_existent(sleepBrightness):
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ def calculate_dim_values(sleepTracking, sleepTrackingZones, sleepBrightness, scr
         elif isinstance(screenBrightness, list):
             logging.error("list style config for screenBrightness no longer supported")
         elif screenBrightness.startswith("ha:"):
+            time.sleep(1)
             dimValueNormal = int(float(libs.home_assistant.get_template(screenBrightness)[3:]))
             involved_entities.extend(libs.home_assistant.get_template_listener_entities(screenBrightness))
         elif libs.home_assistant.is_existent(screenBrightness):
diff --git a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/libs/home_assistant.py b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/libs/home_assistant.py
index 28e2d59a..afd700fc 100644
--- a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/libs/home_assistant.py
+++ b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/libs/home_assistant.py
@@ -246,6 +246,8 @@ def execute_script(entity_name: str, domain: str, service: str, service_data: di
         return {}
 
 def cache_template(template):
+    if not template:
+        raise Exception("Invalid template")
     global next_id, response_buffer
     try:
         call_id = next_id
diff --git a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/panel.py b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/panel.py
index f531aab0..84177a35 100644
--- a/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/panel.py
+++ b/nspanel-lovelace-ui/rootfs/usr/bin/mqtt-manager/panel.py
@@ -76,8 +76,10 @@ class LovelaceUIPanel:
         ha_control.wait_for_ha_cache()
 
         #request templates on cards
-        libs.home_assistant.cache_template(self.settings.get("sleepBrightness"))
-        libs.home_assistant.cache_template(self.settings.get("screenBrightness"))
+        if self.settings.get("sleepBrightness").startswith("ha:"):
+            libs.home_assistant.cache_template(self.settings.get("sleepBrightness"))
+        if self.settings.get("screenBrightness").startswith("ha:"):
+            libs.home_assistant.cache_template(self.settings.get("screenBrightness"))
         for c in self.cards.values():
             if hasattr(c, "qrcode"):
                 if c.qrcode.startswith("ha:"):