diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index bb507e74..8b306998 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+    - added index key example to QUICKSTART guide (Monte)
+
 Version 1.4.6
 -------------
     - fixed bug with {assign ...} when passing an empty value. (Monte)
diff --git a/Smarty.class.php b/Smarty.class.php
index 360a6ebc..b41c9751 100644
--- a/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/Smarty.class.php
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
     function _read_file($filename)
 
     {
-        if (!($fd = fopen($filename, 'r'))) {
+        if (!($fd = @fopen($filename, 'r'))) {
             $this->_trigger_error_msg("problem reading '$filename.'");
             return false;
         }
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
         if ($create_dirs)
             $this->_create_dir_structure(dirname($filename));
 
-        if (!($fd = fopen($filename, 'w'))) {
+        if (!($fd = @fopen($filename, 'w'))) {
             $this->_trigger_error_msg("problem writing '$filename.'");
             return false;
         }
@@ -1227,6 +1227,10 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
     {
         $results = $this->_read_file($cache_file);
 
+		if(empty($results)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		
         // get the files involved with this cache from the first line
         $contents = explode("\n", $results, 2);
 
diff --git a/demo/index.php b/demo/index.php
index 5acebb36..549a5953 100644
--- a/demo/index.php
+++ b/demo/index.php
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <?php
 
-require("Smarty.class.php");
-
 $smarty = new Smarty;
 
 $smarty->compile_check = true;
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 5acebb36..549a5953 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 <?php
 
-require("Smarty.class.php");
-
 $smarty = new Smarty;
 
 $smarty->compile_check = true;
diff --git a/libs/Smarty.class.php b/libs/Smarty.class.php
index 360a6ebc..b41c9751 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty.class.php
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
     function _read_file($filename)
 
     {
-        if (!($fd = fopen($filename, 'r'))) {
+        if (!($fd = @fopen($filename, 'r'))) {
             $this->_trigger_error_msg("problem reading '$filename.'");
             return false;
         }
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
         if ($create_dirs)
             $this->_create_dir_structure(dirname($filename));
 
-        if (!($fd = fopen($filename, 'w'))) {
+        if (!($fd = @fopen($filename, 'w'))) {
             $this->_trigger_error_msg("problem writing '$filename.'");
             return false;
         }
@@ -1227,6 +1227,10 @@ function _run_mod_handler()
     {
         $results = $this->_read_file($cache_file);
 
+		if(empty($results)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		
         // get the files involved with this cache from the first line
         $contents = explode("\n", $results, 2);