diff --git a/apiserver/server.py b/apiserver/server.py
index 8b9cae0..585a10d 100644
--- a/apiserver/server.py
+++ b/apiserver/server.py
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ def _add_new_refs():
             database.put_ref(ref, nid, source, urlref)
             logging.info('Added ref ' + ref)
         except database.IntegrityError:
+            logging.info('Unable to add ref ' + ref)
             continue
 
 def _update_current_story(item):
diff --git a/apiserver/utils.py b/apiserver/utils.py
index 9fbe3ee..c2c6d7f 100644
--- a/apiserver/utils.py
+++ b/apiserver/utils.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import string
 from bleach.sanitizer import Cleaner
 
 def gen_rand_id():
-    return ''.join(random.choice(string.ascii_uppercase) for _ in range(4))
+    return ''.join(random.choice(string.ascii_uppercase) for _ in range(5))
 
 def render_md(md):
     if md: