diff --git a/apigetpost.py b/apigetpost.py
index bbd594ca413..d5f741eeecb 100644
--- a/apigetpost.py
+++ b/apigetpost.py
@@ -50,14 +50,16 @@ def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         setattr(self, key, value)
 
     def __getitem__(self, item):
-        getattr(self, item)
+        return getattr(self, item)
 
 
 def api_get_post(post_url):
     with GlobalVars.api_request_lock:
         # Respect backoff, if we were given one
         if GlobalVars.api_backoff_time > time.time():
-            time.sleep(GlobalVars.api_backoff_time - time.time() + 2)
+            # Use max(0, ...) to ensure no negative sleep times
+            time.sleep(max(0, GlobalVars.api_backoff_time - time.time() + 2))
+
         d = parsing.fetch_post_id_and_site_from_url(post_url)
         if d is None:
             return None
@@ -66,9 +68,12 @@ def api_get_post(post_url):
         request_url = get_se_api_url_for_route("{}s/{}".format(post_type, post_id))
         params = get_se_api_default_params_questions_answers_posts_add_site(site)
         response = requests.get(request_url, params=params, timeout=GlobalVars.default_requests_timeout).json()
+
         if "backoff" in response:
+            # Update backoff time if required
             if GlobalVars.api_backoff_time < time.time() + response["backoff"]:
                 GlobalVars.api_backoff_time = time.time() + response["backoff"]
+
         if 'items' not in response or len(response['items']) == 0:
             return False
 
@@ -78,6 +83,7 @@ def api_get_post(post_url):
     post_data.post_url = parsing.url_to_shortlink(item['link'])
     post_data.post_type = post_type
     post_data.title = html.unescape(item['title'])
+    
     if 'owner' in item and 'link' in item['owner']:
         post_data.owner_name = html.unescape(item['owner']['display_name'])
         post_data.owner_url = item['owner']['link']
@@ -86,6 +92,7 @@ def api_get_post(post_url):
         post_data.owner_name = ""
         post_data.owner_url = ""
         post_data.owner_rep = 1
+
     post_data.site = site
     post_data.body = item['body']
     post_data.body_markdown = item['body_markdown']
@@ -93,10 +100,10 @@ def api_get_post(post_url):
     post_data.up_vote_count = item['up_vote_count']
     post_data.down_vote_count = item['down_vote_count']
     post_data.creation_date = item['creation_date']
-    try:
-        post_data.last_edit_date = item['last_edit_date']
-    except KeyError:
-        post_data.last_edit_date = post_data.creation_date  # Key not present = not edited
+    
+    post_data.last_edit_date = item.get('last_edit_date', post_data.creation_date)  # Use .get() for safer access
+    
     if post_type == "answer":
         post_data.question_id = item['question_id']
+    
     return post_data