diff --git a/openevolve/evaluator.py b/openevolve/evaluator.py
index 716a9540..10a05cf1 100644
--- a/openevolve/evaluator.py
+++ b/openevolve/evaluator.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ async def evaluate_program(
                         "error_type": "timeout",
                     }
 
-                return {"error": 0.0, "timeout": True}
+                return {"combined_score": float('-inf'), "error": 0.0, "timeout": True}
 
             except Exception as e:
                 last_exception = e
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ async def evaluate_program(
         logger.error(
             f"All evaluation attempts failed for program{program_id_str}. Last error: {str(last_exception)}"
         )
-        return {"error": 0.0}
+        return {"combined_score": float('-inf'), "error": 0.0}
 
     def _process_evaluation_result(self, result: Any) -> EvaluationResult:
         """