in reply to Re: What is -w?
in thread What is -w?

So I find it hard to imagine how including it could actually remove an error
It can! 
perl -e "die unless $^W"
Died at -e line 1.

perl -we "die unless $^W"

[download]
In addition, if understand, OP is running the script in a webserver ("Internal Server Error..") so many things can be involved.

L*

There are no rules, there are no thumbs..
Reinvent the wheel, then learn The Wheel; may be one day you reinvent one of THE WHEELS.

In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom