diff --git a/pyfpdb/HUD_main.py b/pyfpdb/HUD_main.py
index 39096065..4f7e8845 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/HUD_main.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/HUD_main.py
@@ -215,10 +215,10 @@ class HUD_main(object):
 #        Update an existing HUD
             if temp_key in self.hud_dict:
                 # get stats using hud's specific params and get cards
-                self.db_connection.init_hud_stat_vars( self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params['hud_days']
-                                                     , self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params['h_hud_days'])
-                stat_dict = self.db_connection.get_stats_from_hand(new_hand_id, type, self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params, self.hero_ids[site_id])
                 try:
+                    self.db_connection.init_hud_stat_vars( self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params['hud_days']
+                                                     , self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params['h_hud_days'])
+                    stat_dict = self.db_connection.get_stats_from_hand(new_hand_id, type, self.hud_dict[temp_key].hud_params, self.hero_ids[site_id])
                     self.hud_dict[temp_key].stat_dict = stat_dict
                 except KeyError:    # HUD instance has been killed off, key is stale
                     sys.stderr.write('hud_dict[%s] was not found\n' % temp_key)