diff --git a/src/zabapgit_object_tabl.prog.abap b/src/zabapgit_object_tabl.prog.abap
index fcd1c4dac..8f70c2f35 100644
--- a/src/zabapgit_object_tabl.prog.abap
+++ b/src/zabapgit_object_tabl.prog.abap
@@ -195,6 +195,11 @@ CLASS lcl_object_tabl IMPLEMENTATION.
         <ls_dd03p>-scrtext_m,
         <ls_dd03p>-scrtext_l.
 
+      IF <ls_dd03p>-masklen = '' OR NOT <ls_dd03p>-masklen CO '0123456789'.
+* make sure the field contains valid data, or the XML will dump
+        CLEAR <ls_dd03p>-masklen.
+      ENDIF.
+
       IF <ls_dd03p>-comptype = 'E'.
 * type specified via data element
         CLEAR: <ls_dd03p>-domname,
diff --git a/src/zabapgit_object_tran.prog.abap b/src/zabapgit_object_tran.prog.abap
index 5f4b9cbff..9eba8a64a 100644
--- a/src/zabapgit_object_tran.prog.abap
+++ b/src/zabapgit_object_tran.prog.abap
@@ -387,10 +387,7 @@ CLASS lcl_object_tran IMPLEMENTATION.
 
     SELECT SINGLE * FROM tstct INTO ls_tstct
       WHERE sprsl = mv_language
-      AND tcode = lv_transaction.                       "#EC CI_GENBUFF
-    IF sy-subrc <> 0.
-      lcx_exception=>raise( 'Transaction description not found' ).
-    ENDIF.
+      AND tcode = lv_transaction.         "#EC CI_SUBRC "#EC CI_GENBUFF
 
     SELECT SINGLE * FROM tstcp INTO ls_tstcp
       WHERE tcode = lv_transaction.       "#EC CI_SUBRC "#EC CI_GENBUFF