diff --git a/src/calibre/__init__.py b/src/calibre/__init__.py
index 5039331660..c237e15dff 100644
--- a/src/calibre/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/__init__.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def extract(path, dir):
 def get_proxies(debug=True):
     proxies = getproxies()
     for key, proxy in list(proxies.items()):
-        if not proxy:
+        if not proxy or '..' in proxy:
             del proxies[key]
             continue
         if proxy.startswith(key+'://'):
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/prs505/books.py b/src/calibre/devices/prs505/books.py
index ee5209c563..406a139fd1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/prs505/books.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/prs505/books.py
@@ -284,7 +284,12 @@ class BookList(_BookList):
         plitems = []
         for pl in self.playlists():
             for c in pl.childNodes:
-                if hasattr(c, 'tagName')  and c.tagName.endswith('item'):
+                if hasattr(c, 'tagName') and c.tagName.endswith('item') and \
+                    hasattr(c, 'getAttribute'):
+                    try:
+                        c.getAttribute('id')
+                    except: # Unlinked node
+                        continue
                     plitems.append(c)
         return plitems