diff --git a/.Rbuildignore b/.Rbuildignore
index d0c10332d..e4bff0b18 100644
--- a/.Rbuildignore
+++ b/.Rbuildignore
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@
 ^.git-blame-ignore-revs$
 ^doc$
 ^Meta$
+^.lintr$
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.lintr b/.lintr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7c90554d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.lintr
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+linters: linters_with_defaults(
+  line_length_linter(120),
+  cyclocomp_linter = NULL,
+  object_length_linter(length = 40L)
+  )
+exclusions: list(
+  "renv",
+  "venv"
+  )
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 5f629f45f..5941a8f3b 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -4,34 +4,35 @@ Pre-1.0.0 numbering scheme: 0.x will indicate releases, while 0.0.x will indicat
 
 # epipredict 0.1
 
--   add `check_enough_train_data` that will error if training data is too small
--   added `check_enough_train_data` to `arx_forecaster`
--   simplify `layer_residual_quantiles()` to avoid timesuck in `utils::methods()`
--   rename the `dist_quantiles()` to be more descriptive, breaking change
--   removes previous `pivot_quantiles()` (now `*_wider()`, breaking change)
--   add `pivot_quantiles_wider()` for easier plotting
--   add complement `pivot_quantiles_longer()`
--   add `cdc_baseline_forecaster()` and `flusight_hub_formatter()`
--   add `smooth_quantile_reg()`
--   improved printing of various methods / internals
--   canned forecasters get a class
--   fixed quantile bug in `flatline_forecaster()`
--   add functionality to output the unfit workflow from the canned forecasters
--   add quantile_reg()
--   clean up documentation bugs
--   add smooth_quantile_reg()
--   add classifier
--   training window step debugged
--   `min_train_window` argument removed from canned forecasters
--   add forecasters
--   implement postprocessing
--   vignettes avaliable
--   arx_forecaster
--   pkgdown
--   Publish public for easy navigation
--   Two simple forecasters as test beds
--   Working vignette
--   use `checkmate` for input validation
--   refactor quantile extrapolation (possibly creates different results)
--   force `target_date` + `forecast_date` handling to match the time_type of 
-    the epi_df. allows for annual and weekly data
+- `layer_residual_quantiles()` will now error if any of the residual quantiles are NA
+- add `check_enough_train_data` that will error if training data is too small
+- added `check_enough_train_data` to `arx_forecaster`
+- simplify `layer_residual_quantiles()` to avoid timesuck in `utils::methods()`
+- rename the `dist_quantiles()` to be more descriptive, breaking change
+- removes previous `pivot_quantiles()` (now `*_wider()`, breaking change)
+- add `pivot_quantiles_wider()` for easier plotting
+- add complement `pivot_quantiles_longer()`
+- add `cdc_baseline_forecaster()` and `flusight_hub_formatter()`
+- add `smooth_quantile_reg()`
+- improved printing of various methods / internals
+- canned forecasters get a class
+- fixed quantile bug in `flatline_forecaster()`
+- add functionality to output the unfit workflow from the canned forecasters
+- add quantile_reg()
+- clean up documentation bugs
+- add smooth_quantile_reg()
+- add classifier
+- training window step debugged
+- `min_train_window` argument removed from canned forecasters
+- add forecasters
+- implement postprocessing
+- vignettes avaliable
+- arx_forecaster
+- pkgdown
+- Publish public for easy navigation
+- Two simple forecasters as test beds
+- Working vignette
+- use `checkmate` for input validation
+- refactor quantile extrapolation (possibly creates different results)
+- force `target_date` + `forecast_date` handling to match the time_type of
+  the epi_df. allows for annual and weekly data
diff --git a/R/arx_classifier.R b/R/arx_classifier.R
index d42247426..1ce6a5b3c 100644
--- a/R/arx_classifier.R
+++ b/R/arx_classifier.R
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ arx_class_epi_workflow <- function(
     }
 
   forecast_date <- args_list$forecast_date %||% max(epi_data$time_value)
-  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% forecast_date + args_list$ahead
+  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% (forecast_date + args_list$ahead)
 
   # --- postprocessor
   f <- frosting() %>% layer_predict() # %>% layer_naomit()
diff --git a/R/arx_forecaster.R b/R/arx_forecaster.R
index ce2fa57b0..d84f65df1 100644
--- a/R/arx_forecaster.R
+++ b/R/arx_forecaster.R
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ arx_fcast_epi_workflow <- function(
     }
 
   forecast_date <- args_list$forecast_date %||% max(epi_data$time_value)
-  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% forecast_date + args_list$ahead
+  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% (forecast_date + args_list$ahead)
 
   # --- postprocessor
   f <- frosting() %>% layer_predict() # %>% layer_naomit()
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ print.arx_fcast <- function(x, ...) {
 }
 
 compare_quantile_args <- function(alist, tlist) {
-  default_alist <- eval(formals(arx_args_list)$quantile_level)
-  default_tlist <- eval(formals(quantile_reg)$quantile_level)
+  default_alist <- eval(formals(arx_args_list)$quantile_levels)
+  default_tlist <- eval(formals(quantile_reg)$quantile_levels)
   if (setequal(alist, default_alist)) {
     if (setequal(tlist, default_tlist)) {
       return(sort(unique(union(alist, tlist))))
diff --git a/R/cdc_baseline_forecaster.R b/R/cdc_baseline_forecaster.R
index abb231bca..4af6d6f3f 100644
--- a/R/cdc_baseline_forecaster.R
+++ b/R/cdc_baseline_forecaster.R
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ cdc_baseline_forecaster <- function(
     step_training_window(n_recent = args_list$n_training)
 
   forecast_date <- args_list$forecast_date %||% max(epi_data$time_value)
-  # target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% forecast_date + args_list$ahead
+  # target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% (forecast_date + args_list$ahead)
 
 
   latest <- get_test_data(
diff --git a/R/flatline_forecaster.R b/R/flatline_forecaster.R
index 99ebc8694..c7b060caa 100644
--- a/R/flatline_forecaster.R
+++ b/R/flatline_forecaster.R
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ flatline_forecaster <- function(
     step_training_window(n_recent = args_list$n_training)
 
   forecast_date <- args_list$forecast_date %||% max(epi_data$time_value)
-  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% forecast_date + args_list$ahead
-
+  target_date <- args_list$target_date %||% (forecast_date + args_list$ahead)
 
   latest <- get_test_data(
     epi_recipe(epi_data), epi_data, TRUE, args_list$nafill_buffer,
diff --git a/R/layer_residual_quantiles.R b/R/layer_residual_quantiles.R
index b09956c2e..a6bc93f18 100644
--- a/R/layer_residual_quantiles.R
+++ b/R/layer_residual_quantiles.R
@@ -123,6 +123,13 @@ slather.layer_residual_quantiles <-
           probs = object$quantile_levels, na.rm = TRUE
         ))
       )
+    # Check for NA
+    if (any(sapply(r$dstn, is.na))) {
+      cli::cli_abort(c(
+        "Residual quantiles could not be calculated due to missing residuals.",
+        i = "This may be due to `n_train` < `ahead` in your {.cls epi_recipe}."
+      ))
+    }
 
     estimate <- components$predictions$.pred
     res <- tibble::tibble(
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-dist_quantiles.R b/tests/testthat/test-dist_quantiles.R
index 99ce742d5..9c01ca103 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-dist_quantiles.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-dist_quantiles.R
@@ -28,17 +28,16 @@ test_that("single dist_quantiles works, quantiles are accessible", {
 
 test_that("quantile extrapolator works", {
   dstn <- dist_normal(c(10, 2), c(5, 10))
-  qq <- extrapolate_quantiles(dstn, p = c(.25, 0.5, .75))
+  qq <- extrapolate_quantiles(dstn, probs = c(.25, 0.5, .75))
   expect_s3_class(qq, "distribution")
   expect_s3_class(vctrs::vec_data(qq[1])[[1]], "dist_quantiles")
-  expect_length(parameters(qq[1])$q[[1]], 3L)
-
+  expect_length(parameters(qq[1])$quantile_levels[[1]], 3L)
 
   dstn <- dist_quantiles(list(1:4, 8:11), list(c(.2, .4, .6, .8)))
-  qq <- extrapolate_quantiles(dstn, p = c(.25, 0.5, .75))
+  qq <- extrapolate_quantiles(dstn, probs = c(.25, 0.5, .75))
   expect_s3_class(qq, "distribution")
   expect_s3_class(vctrs::vec_data(qq[1])[[1]], "dist_quantiles")
-  expect_length(parameters(qq[1])$q[[1]], 7L)
+  expect_length(parameters(qq[1])$quantile_levels[[1]], 7L)
 })
 
 test_that("small deviations of quantile requests work", {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-layer_residual_quantiles.R b/tests/testthat/test-layer_residual_quantiles.R
index 5723fbce9..a346c62a3 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-layer_residual_quantiles.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-layer_residual_quantiles.R
@@ -98,3 +98,10 @@ test_that("Canned forecasters work with / without", {
     )
   )
 })
+
+test_that("flatline_forecaster correctly errors when n_training < ahead", {
+  expect_error(
+    flatline_forecaster(jhu, "death_rate", args_list = flatline_args_list(ahead = 10, n_training = 9)),
+    "This may be due to `n_train` < `ahead`"
+  )
+})
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-target_date_bug.R b/tests/testthat/test-target_date_bug.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a7e7d2e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-target_date_bug.R
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# These tests address #290:
+# https://github.com/cmu-delphi/epipredict/issues/290
+
+library(dplyr)
+train <- jhu_csse_daily_subset |>
+  filter(time_value >= as.Date("2021-10-01")) |>
+  select(geo_value, time_value, cr = case_rate_7d_av, dr = death_rate_7d_av)
+ngeos <- n_distinct(train$geo_value)
+
+test_that("flatline determines target_date where forecast_date exists", {
+  flat <- flatline_forecaster(
+    train, "dr",
+    args_list = flatline_args_list(
+      forecast_date = as.Date("2021-12-31"),
+      target_date = as.Date("2022-01-01"),
+      ahead = 1L
+    )
+  )
+  # previously, if target_date existed, it could be
+  # erroneously incremented by the ahead
+  expect_identical(
+    flat$predictions$target_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2022-01-01"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_identical(
+    flat$predictions$forecast_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2021-12-31"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_true(all(!is.na(flat$predictions$.pred_distn)))
+  expect_true(all(!is.na(flat$predictions$.pred)))
+})
+
+test_that("arx_forecaster determines target_date where forecast_date exists", {
+  arx <- arx_forecaster(
+    train, "dr", c("dr", "cr"),
+    args_list = arx_args_list(
+      forecast_date = as.Date("2021-12-31"),
+      target_date = as.Date("2022-01-01"),
+      ahead = 1L
+    )
+  )
+  # previously, if target_date existed, it could be
+  # erroneously incremented by the ahead
+  expect_identical(
+    arx$predictions$target_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2022-01-01"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_identical(
+    arx$predictions$forecast_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2021-12-31"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_true(all(!is.na(arx$predictions$.pred_distn)))
+  expect_true(all(!is.na(arx$predictions$.pred)))
+})
+
+test_that("arx_classifier determines target_date where forecast_date exists", {
+  arx <- arx_classifier(
+    train, "dr", c("dr"),
+    trainer = parsnip::boost_tree(mode = "classification", trees = 5),
+    args_list = arx_class_args_list(
+      forecast_date = as.Date("2021-12-31"),
+      target_date = as.Date("2022-01-01"),
+      ahead = 1L
+    )
+  )
+  # previously, if target_date existed, it could be
+  # erroneously incremented by the ahead
+  expect_identical(
+    arx$predictions$target_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2022-01-01"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_identical(
+    arx$predictions$forecast_date,
+    rep(as.Date("2021-12-31"), ngeos)
+  )
+  expect_true(all(!is.na(arx$predictions$.pred_class)))
+})