diff --git a/puppetboard/app.py b/puppetboard/app.py
index 7ec4461..50271f7 100644
--- a/puppetboard/app.py
+++ b/puppetboard/app.py
@@ -455,15 +455,16 @@ def reports_ajax(env, node_name):
     """
     draw = int(request.args.get('draw', 0))
     start = int(request.args.get('start', 0))
-    length = int(request.args.get('length'))
+    length = int(request.args.get('length', app.config['NORMAL_TABLE_COUNT']))
     paging_args = {'limit': length, 'offset': start}
     search_arg = request.args.get('search[value]')
-    order_column = int(request.args.get('order[0][column]'))
+    order_column = int(request.args.get('order[0][column]', 0))
     order_filter = REPORTS_COLUMNS[order_column].get(
         'filter', REPORTS_COLUMNS[order_column]['attr'])
     order_dir = request.args.get('order[0][dir]')
     order_args = '[{"field": "%s", "order": "%s"}]' % (order_filter, order_dir)
-    status_args = request.args.get('columns[1][search][value]').split('|')
+    status_args = request.args.get('columns[1][search][value]', '').split('|')
+    max_col = len(REPORTS_COLUMNS)
     for i in range(len(REPORTS_COLUMNS)):
         if request.args.get("columns[%s][data]" % i, None):
             max_col = i + 1