diff --git a/wcs/qommon/storage.py b/wcs/qommon/storage.py
index 10c8cedaf..c7ca3b4d0 100644
--- a/wcs/qommon/storage.py
+++ b/wcs/qommon/storage.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import time
 import pickle
 
 from quixote import get_publisher
@@ -332,11 +333,21 @@ class StorableObject(object):
 
     def last_modified_id(cls, id):
         filename = os.path.join(cls.get_objects_dir(), fix_key(id))
-        stat = os.stat(filename)
-        return stat.st_mtime
+        mtime = 0
+        try:
+            stat = os.stat(filename)
+            mtime = stat.st_mtime
+        except OSError:
+            mtime = int(time.time())
+        return mtime
     last_modified_id = classmethod(last_modified_id)
 
     def last_modified(cls):
-        stat = os.stat(cls.get_objects_dir())
-        return stat.st_mtime
+        mtime = 0
+        try:
+            stat = os.stat(cls.get_objects_dir())
+            mtime = stat.st_mtime
+        except OSError:
+            mtime = int(time.time())
+        return mtime
     last_modified = classmethod(last_modified)