diff --git a/docs/release-history.rst b/docs/release-history.rst
index 6fd78edd..c865674d 100644
--- a/docs/release-history.rst
+++ b/docs/release-history.rst
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ This project adheres to a modified `Calendar Versioning <https://calver.org/>`_
 * ``M`` = The current month
 * ``P`` = An 0-indexed incrementing index for the release version for this month
 
+2024.1.6
+========
+
+Fixed
+-----
+
+* Rename __max_str in local/collection.py to _max_str - functions could not see variable
+* Add default value of 0 to sort_key in ItemSorter.sort_by_field
+* Fixed RemoteItemChecker _pause logic to only get playlist name when input is not False-y
+
+
 2024.1.5
 ========
 
diff --git a/musify/local/collection.py b/musify/local/collection.py
index a03d03c8..247af9fa 100644
--- a/musify/local/collection.py
+++ b/musify/local/collection.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 from musify.shared.types import UnitIterable
 from musify.shared.utils import get_most_common_values, to_collection, align_and_truncate, get_max_width
 
-__max_str = "z" * 50
+_max_str = "z" * 50
 
 
 class LocalCollection[T: LocalTrack](ItemCollection[T], metaclass=ABCMeta):
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ def __init__(
             tracks = [load_track(path) for path in glob(join(name, "*")) if splitext(path)[1] in TRACK_FILETYPES]
             name = basename(name)
         super().__init__(tracks=tracks, name=name, remote_wrangler=remote_wrangler)
-        self.tracks.sort(key=lambda x: x.filename or __max_str)
+        self.tracks.sort(key=lambda x: x.filename or _max_str)
 
     def set_compilation_tags(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         super().__init__(tracks=tracks, name=name, remote_wrangler=remote_wrangler)
         self.tracks.sort(
-            key=lambda x: (x.disc_number or sys.maxsize, x.track_number or sys.maxsize, x.filename or __max_str)
+            key=lambda x: (x.disc_number or sys.maxsize, x.track_number or sys.maxsize, x.filename or _max_str)
         )
         self._image_links: dict[str, str] = {}
 
@@ -477,10 +477,10 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         super().__init__(tracks=tracks, name=name, remote_wrangler=remote_wrangler)
         self.tracks.sort(
-            key=lambda x: (x.album or __max_str,
+            key=lambda x: (x.album or _max_str,
                            x.disc_number or sys.maxsize,
                            x.track_number or sys.maxsize,
-                           x.filename or __max_str)
+                           x.filename or _max_str)
         )
 
 
@@ -509,9 +509,9 @@ def __init__(
     ):
         super().__init__(tracks=tracks, name=name, remote_wrangler=remote_wrangler)
         self.tracks.sort(
-            key=lambda x: (x.artist or __max_str,
-                           x.album or __max_str,
+            key=lambda x: (x.artist or _max_str,
+                           x.album or _max_str,
                            x.disc_number or sys.maxsize,
                            x.track_number or sys.maxsize,
-                           x.filename or __max_str)
+                           x.filename or _max_str)
         )
diff --git a/musify/processors/sort.py b/musify/processors/sort.py
index 196996c5..67d06267 100644
--- a/musify/processors/sort.py
+++ b/musify/processors/sort.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def sort_key(t: Item) -> float:
         elif isinstance(example_value, str):  # key strips ignore words from string
             sort_key: Callable[[Item], (bool, str)] = lambda t: strip_ignore_words(t[tag_name])
         else:
-            sort_key: Callable[[Item], object] = lambda t: t[tag_name]
+            sort_key: Callable[[Item], object] = lambda t: t[tag_name] if t[tag_name] else 0
 
         items.sort(key=sort_key, reverse=reverse)
 
diff --git a/musify/shared/remote/processors/check.py b/musify/shared/remote/processors/check.py
index 7d459120..9145f26e 100644
--- a/musify/shared/remote/processors/check.py
+++ b/musify/shared/remote/processors/check.py
@@ -260,7 +260,10 @@ def _pause(self, page: int, total: int) -> None:
         print("\n" + help_text)
         while current_input != '':  # while user has not hit return only
             current_input = self._get_user_input(f"Enter ({page}/{total})")
-            pl_names = [name for name in self._playlist_name_collection if current_input.casefold() in name.casefold()]
+            pl_name = next(
+                name for name in self._playlist_name_collection
+                if current_input and current_input.casefold() in name.casefold()
+            )
 
             if current_input.casefold() == "h":  # print help text
                 print("\n" + help_text)
@@ -270,12 +273,11 @@ def _pause(self, page: int, total: int) -> None:
                 self._skip = current_input.casefold() == 's' or self._skip
                 break
 
-            elif pl_names:  # print originally added items
-                name = pl_names[0]
-                items = [item for item in self._playlist_name_collection[name] if item.has_uri]
+            elif pl_name:  # print originally added items
+                items = [item for item in self._playlist_name_collection[pl_name] if item.has_uri]
                 max_width = get_max_width(items)
 
-                print(f"\n\t\33[96mShowing items originally added to \33[94m{name}\33[0m:\n")
+                print(f"\n\t\33[96mShowing items originally added to \33[94m{pl_name}\33[0m:\n")
                 for i, item in enumerate(items, 1):
                     length = getattr(item, "length", 0)
                     self.api.print_item(