diff --git a/docs/source/tests/dnstamper.rst b/docs/source/tests/dnstamper.rst
index 8fdb572d6..faa81a860 100644
--- a/docs/source/tests/dnstamper.rst
+++ b/docs/source/tests/dnstamper.rst
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Sample report
 =============
 
 From running:
-`./bin/ooniprobe nettests/core/dnstamper.py -t test_inputs/dns_tamper_test_resolvers.txt -f test_inputs/http_host_file.txt`
+`./bin/ooniprobe nettests/core/dnstamper.py -T test_inputs/dns_tamper_test_resolvers.txt -f test_inputs/http_host_file.txt`
 
 ::
 
diff --git a/docs/source/writing_tests.rst b/docs/source/writing_tests.rst
index ccc529a9c..3065b9e0c 100644
--- a/docs/source/writing_tests.rst
+++ b/docs/source/writing_tests.rst
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ To implement a simple ICMP ping based on this function you can do like so
   from ooni.templates import scapyt
 
   class UsageOptions(usage.Options):
-      optParameters = [['target', 't', '8.8.8.8', "Specify the target to ping"]]
+      optParameters = [['target', 't', '127.0.0.1', "Specify the target to ping"]]
 
   class ExampleICMPPingScapy(scapyt.BaseScapyTest):
       name = "Example ICMP Ping Test"
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ regular sequential code.
   from ooni.templates import scapyt
 
   class UsageOptions(usage.Options):
-      optParameters = [['target', 't', self.localOptions['target'], "Specify the target to ping"]]
+      optParameters = [['target', 't', '127.0.0.1', "Specify the target to ping"]]
 
   class ExampleICMPPingScapyYield(scapyt.BaseScapyTest):
       name = "Example ICMP Ping Test"
diff --git a/nettests/blocking/dnstamper.py b/nettests/blocking/dnstamper.py
index 1ef2c8991..1e4d26023 100644
--- a/nettests/blocking/dnstamper.py
+++ b/nettests/blocking/dnstamper.py
@@ -114,7 +114,14 @@ def test_a_lookup(self):
             log.msg("Testing resolver: %s" % test_resolver)
             test_dns_server = (test_resolver, 53)
 
-            experiment_answers = yield self.performALookup(hostname, test_dns_server)
+            try:
+                experiment_answers = yield self.performALookup(hostname, test_dns_server)
+            except Exception, e:
+                log.err("Problem performing the DNS lookup")
+                log.exception(e)
+                self.report['tampering'][test_resolver] = 'dns_lookup_error'
+                continue
+
             if not experiment_answers:
                 log.err("Got no response, perhaps the DNS resolver is down?")
                 self.report['tampering'][test_resolver] = 'no_answer'