diff --git a/pylint.rc b/pylint.rc
index 5ed3722c0..06e9e5b39 100644
--- a/pylint.rc
+++ b/pylint.rc
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ disable=
     deprecated-module,
     disallowed-name,
     duplicate-code,
-    duplicate-except,
     eval-used,
     exec-used,
     fixme,
diff --git a/wcs/publisher.py b/wcs/publisher.py
index 4dd588817..8633b484d 100644
--- a/wcs/publisher.py
+++ b/wcs/publisher.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import json
 import os
 import pickle
 import re
-import socket
 import sys
 import traceback
 import zipfile
@@ -381,12 +380,10 @@ class WcsPublisher(StubWcsPublisher):
             return
         try:
             self.logger.log_internal_error(error_summary, plain_error_msg, tech_id)
-        except socket.error:
-            # will happen if there is no mail server available and exceptions
-            # were configured to be mailed.
-            pass
         except OSError:
-            # this could happen on file descriptor exhaustion
+            # Could happen if there is no mail server available and exceptions
+            # were configured to be mailed. (formerly socket.error)
+            # Could also could happen on file descriptor exhaustion.
             pass
 
     def record_error(self, *args, **kwargs):