diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index c7dc77d5ac..e00e62a7c0 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
                 with self.system.resources_fs.open(path("about") / section_key + ".html") as htmlFile:
                     return htmlFile.read().decode('utf-8')
             except ResourceNotFoundError:
-                log.exception("Missing about section {key} in course {url}".format(key=section_key, url=self.location.url()))
-                return "! About section missing !"
+                log.warning("Missing about section {key} in course {url}".format(key=section_key, url=self.location.url()))
+                return None
         elif section_key == "title":
             return self.metadata.get('display_name', self.name)
         elif section_key == "university":
diff --git a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
index 30980c41ed..e47dd96c60 100644
--- a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
+++ b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
@@ -19,12 +19,14 @@
         </div>
 
       </section>
+      % if course.get_about_section("video"):
       <a href="#video-modal" class="media" rel="leanModal">
         <div class="hero">
           <img src="${static.url('images/courses/circuits.jpeg')}" />
           <div class="play-intro"></div>
         </div>
       </a>
+      % endif
     </div>
   </header>