diff --git a/demo/demo.js b/demo/demo.js
index 8aa65269..f472757c 100644
--- a/demo/demo.js
+++ b/demo/demo.js
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ const onReady = async (
               },
             )),
           );
+
           writer.write(
             ...(await penumbra.get(
               {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a6627eff..b03bcdb0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@transcend-io/penumbra",
-  "version": "5.3.2",
+  "version": "5.3.3",
   "description": "Crypto streams for the browser.",
   "main": "dist/main.penumbra.js",
   "types": "ts-build/src/index.d.ts",
diff --git a/src/workers.ts b/src/workers.ts
index aa998eb3..f7296bc0 100644
--- a/src/workers.ts
+++ b/src/workers.ts
@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ const onWorkerInitQueue: (() => void)[] = [];
  * @returns Worker
  */
 function getFreeWorker(): PenumbraWorker {
+  if (workers.length === 0) {
+    throw new Error('No Penumbra workers available.');
+  }
+
   // Poll for any available free workers
   const freeWorker = workers.find(({ busy }) => !busy);
 
@@ -233,21 +237,11 @@ export async function getWorker(): Promise<PenumbraWorker> {
   }
   return getFreeWorker();
 }
-
-/**
- * Returns all active Penumbra Workers
- *
- * @returns Workers
- */
-function getActiveWorkers(): PenumbraWorker[] {
-  return workers;
-}
-
 /**
  * Terminate Penumbra worker and de-allocate their resources
  */
 function cleanup(): void {
-  getActiveWorkers().forEach((thread) => {
+  workers.forEach((thread) => {
     thread.worker.terminate();
   });
   workers.length = 0;
@@ -285,7 +279,6 @@ export async function setWorkerLocation(
   if (initialized) {
     logger.warn('Penumbra Workers are already active. Reinitializing...');
     await cleanup();
-    return;
   }
   settings.workers = JSON.stringify(
     typeof options === 'string'