diff --git a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
index 06814c2707..d775fe05f0 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars-renderer/src/avatars-renderer/Avatar.cpp
@@ -899,17 +899,34 @@ glm::vec3 Avatar::getDefaultJointTranslation(int index) const {
 }
 
 glm::quat Avatar::getAbsoluteDefaultJointRotationInObjectFrame(int index) const {
-    glm::quat rotation;
-    glm::quat rot = _skeletonModel->getRig().getAnimSkeleton()->getAbsoluteDefaultPose(index).rot();
-    return Quaternions::Y_180 * rot;
+    // To make this thread safe, we hold onto the model by smart ptr, which prevents it from being deleted while we are accessing it.
+    auto model = getSkeletonModel();
+    if (model) {
+        auto skeleton = model->getRig().getAnimSkeleton();
+        if (skeleton && index >= 0 && index < skeleton->getNumJoints()) {
+            // The rotation part of the geometry-to-rig transform is always identity so we can skip it.
+            // Y_180 is to convert from rig-frame into avatar-frame
+            return Quaternions::Y_180 * skeleton->getAbsoluteDefaultPose(index).rot();
+        }
+    }
+    return Quaternions::Y_180;
 }
 
 glm::vec3 Avatar::getAbsoluteDefaultJointTranslationInObjectFrame(int index) const {
-    glm::vec3 translation;
-    const Rig& rig = _skeletonModel->getRig();
-    glm::vec3 trans = rig.getAnimSkeleton()->getAbsoluteDefaultPose(index).trans();
-    glm::mat4 y180Mat = createMatFromQuatAndPos(Quaternions::Y_180, glm::vec3());
-    return transformPoint(y180Mat * rig.getGeometryToRigTransform(), trans);
+    // To make this thread safe, we hold onto the model by smart ptr, which prevents it from being deleted while we are accessing it.
+    auto model = getSkeletonModel();
+    if (model) {
+        const Rig& rig = model->getRig();
+        auto skeleton = rig.getAnimSkeleton();
+        if (skeleton && index >= 0 && index < skeleton->getNumJoints()) {
+            // trans is in geometry frame.
+            glm::vec3 trans = skeleton->getAbsoluteDefaultPose(index).trans();
+            // Y_180 is to convert from rig-frame into avatar-frame
+            glm::mat4 geomToAvatarMat = Matrices::Y_180 * rig.getGeometryToRigTransform();
+            return transformPoint(geomToAvatarMat, trans);
+        }
+    }
+    return Vectors::ZERO;
 }
 
 glm::quat Avatar::getAbsoluteJointRotationInObjectFrame(int index) const {
diff --git a/libraries/ui/src/ui/TabletScriptingInterface.cpp b/libraries/ui/src/ui/TabletScriptingInterface.cpp
index 5370a77c83..4ace49927d 100644
--- a/libraries/ui/src/ui/TabletScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/libraries/ui/src/ui/TabletScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,12 @@ void TabletProxy::setToolbarMode(bool toolbarMode) {
         connect(tabletRootWindow, &QmlWindowClass::fromQml, this, &TabletProxy::fromQml);
     } else {
         removeButtonsFromToolbar();
-        addButtonsToHomeScreen();
+
+        if (_currentPathLoaded == TABLET_SOURCE_URL) {
+            addButtonsToHomeScreen();
+        } else {
+            loadHomeScreen(true);
+        }
 
         // destroy desktop window
         if (_desktopWindow) {
@@ -236,7 +241,6 @@ void TabletProxy::setToolbarMode(bool toolbarMode) {
             _desktopWindow = nullptr;
         }
     }
-    loadHomeScreen(true);
 }
 
 static void addButtonProxyToQmlTablet(QQuickItem* qmlTablet, TabletButtonProxy* buttonProxy) {
diff --git a/scripts/system/controllers/teleport.js b/scripts/system/controllers/teleport.js
index b058ec670f..15ba314a1d 100644
--- a/scripts/system/controllers/teleport.js
+++ b/scripts/system/controllers/teleport.js
@@ -381,7 +381,13 @@ function getAvatarFootOffset() {
     }
     if (footJointIndex != -1) {
         // default vertical offset from foot to avatar root.
-        return -MyAvatar.getAbsoluteDefaultJointTranslationInObjectFrame(footJointIndex).y;
+        var footPos = MyAvatar.getAbsoluteDefaultJointTranslationInObjectFrame(footJointIndex);
+        if (footPos.x === 0 && footPos.y === 0 && footPos.z === 0.0) {
+            // if footPos is exactly zero, it's probably wrong because avatar is currently loading, fall back to default.
+            return DEFAULT_ROOT_TO_FOOT_OFFSET * MyAvatar.scale;
+        } else {
+            return -footPos.y;
+        }
     } else {
         return DEFAULT_ROOT_TO_FOOT_OFFSET * MyAvatar.scale;
     }