diff --git a/assets/js/src/anchor.js b/assets/js/src/anchor.js
index 72b3aee0..06d33ffc 100644
--- a/assets/js/src/anchor.js
+++ b/assets/js/src/anchor.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import SimpleAnchor from "simple-anchor";
 
 const anchors = new SimpleAnchor({
-  icon: "",
+  icon: null,
 });
 
 anchors.add("div#content h2, div#content h3, div#content h4");
diff --git a/assets/js/src/clipboard.js b/assets/js/src/clipboard.js
index 56f8ea9a..d6801851 100644
--- a/assets/js/src/clipboard.js
+++ b/assets/js/src/clipboard.js
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import trimNewlines from "trim-newlines";
 const defaultTerm = "Copy";
 const successTerm = "Copied!";
 
-// immediately give up if not supported
-if (ClipboardJS.isSupported()) {
+// immediately give up if not supported or if there are no code blocks
+if (ClipboardJS.isSupported() && document.querySelector("div.highlight")) {
   // loop through each code fence on page (if any)
   document.querySelectorAll("div.highlight").forEach((highlightDiv) => {
     const wrapperDiv = document.createElement("div");
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ if (ClipboardJS.isSupported()) {
     wrapperDiv.insertBefore(button, wrapperDiv.firstChild);
   });
 
+  // now that all the buttons are in place, bind them to the copy action
   new ClipboardJS("button.copy-button", {
-    // actual code element will (should) have class "language-*", even if plaintext
     text: (trigger) =>
-      // eslint-disable-next-line quotes
+      // actual code element will have class "language-*", even if plaintext
       trimNewlines(trigger.parentElement.querySelector('code[class^="language-"]').innerText),
   }).on("success", (e) => {
     // show a subtle indication of success
diff --git a/assets/js/src/counter.js b/assets/js/src/counter.js
index 1835fec8..c739d872 100644
--- a/assets/js/src/counter.js
+++ b/assets/js/src/counter.js
@@ -8,18 +8,18 @@ const HITS_ENDPOINT = "/api/hits/";
 // don't continue if there isn't a span#meta-hits element on this page
 const wrapper = document.getElementById("meta-hits");
 
-// use <link rel="canonical"> to deduce a consistent identifier for this page
-const canonical = canonicalUrl({
-  normalize: true,
-  normalizeOptions: {
-    removeTrailingSlash: true,
-    removeQueryParameters: true,
-    stripHash: true,
-  },
-});
-
 // page must have both span#meta-hits and canonical URL to enter
-if (wrapper && canonical) {
+if (wrapper) {
+  // use <link rel="canonical"> to deduce a consistent identifier for this page
+  const canonical = canonicalUrl({
+    normalize: true,
+    normalizeOptions: {
+      removeTrailingSlash: true,
+      removeQueryParameters: true,
+      stripHash: true,
+    },
+  });
+
   // javascript is enabled so show the loading indicator
   wrapper.style.display = "inline-flex";
 
diff --git a/assets/js/src/dark-mode.js b/assets/js/src/dark-mode.js
index fe0c7f8a..c794df4b 100644
--- a/assets/js/src/dark-mode.js
+++ b/assets/js/src/dark-mode.js
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ initDarkMode({
     // make toggle visible now that we know JS is enabled
     t.style.display = "block";
 
-    // HACK: re-enable theme transitions after a very short delay, otherwise there's a weird race condition (2/2)
+    // HACK: re-enable theme transitions after a very short delay, otherwise
+    // there's a weird race condition (2/2)
     setTimeout(() => {
       document.head.removeChild(disableTransitionCSSHack);
     }, 500);