diff --git a/ocrloader.py b/ocrloader.py
index 975a26d..a777f5c 100755
--- a/ocrloader.py
+++ b/ocrloader.py
@@ -126,10 +126,18 @@ while True:
             M.login(section, cfg.get(section, 'password'))
         except imaplib.IMAP4.error:
             continue
-        M.select()
+        try:
+            M.select()
+        except socket.error:
+            logging.error('failure talking to imap server')
+            continue
         typ, data = M.search(None, '(NOT SEEN)')
         for num in data[0].split():
-            typ, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
+            try:
+                typ, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
+            except socket.error:
+                logging.error('failure talking to imap server')
+                break
             msg = email.parser.Parser().parsestr(data[0][1])
             enable_ocr = True
             if 'disable_ocr' in msg['Subject']:
@@ -141,10 +149,18 @@ while True:
                     payload = part.get_payload(decode=True)
                     if not process(dict(cfg.items(section)), filename, payload, enable_ocr):
                         logging.error('  error -> marking as unseen')
-                        M.store(num, '-FLAGS', r'\Seen')
+                        try:
+                            M.store(num, '-FLAGS', r'\Seen')
+                        except socket.error:
+                            logging.error('failure talking to imap server')
+                            pass
                     break
-        M.close()
-        M.logout()
+        try:
+            M.close()
+            M.logout()
+        except socket.error:
+            logging.error('failure talking to imap server')
+            pass
 
     logging.debug('waiting a bit %s', time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'))
     time.sleep(30)