diff --git a/docbow_project/docbow/timestamp.py b/docbow_project/docbow/timestamp.py
index e8e3467..2004619 100644
--- a/docbow_project/docbow/timestamp.py
+++ b/docbow_project/docbow/timestamp.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ def timestamp_json(json_dict):
     s = simplejson.dumps(json_dict)
     if s[-1] != '}':
         raise ValueError("timestamp_json takes a dictionnary as argument: %s" % s)
-    tst, error = timestamp(s)
+    try:
+        tst, error = timestamp(s)
+    except Exception, e:
+        raise RuntimeError("unable to communicate with timestamping service", e)
     if tst:
         return s[:-1] + ',"timestamp": "%s"}' % tst.encode('base64').strip()
     else:
diff --git a/docbow_project/docbow/views.py b/docbow_project/docbow/views.py
index e85de29..05e53a5 100644
--- a/docbow_project/docbow/views.py
+++ b/docbow_project/docbow/views.py
@@ -229,7 +229,10 @@ def send_file(request):
                         'have been informed.'))
                 else:
                     blob = new_send.timestamp_blob()
-                    tst = timestamp.timestamp_json(blob)
+                    try:
+                        tst = timestamp.timestamp_json(blob)
+                    except (ValueError, RuntimeError), e:
+                        tst = "Error: %r" % str(e)
                     logger.info('sent %s, timestamp %s' % (new_send, tst))
                     msg = ungettext(
                             'New document sent to %d recipient.',