diff --git a/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py b/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
index eeaa63ac..cbe87684 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
@@ -464,8 +464,11 @@ class Importer:
 
                 #pipe the Hands.id out to the HUD
                 for hid in to_hud:
-                    print "fpdb_import: sending hand to hud", hand.dbid_hands, "pipe =", self.caller.pipe_to_hud
-                    self.caller.pipe_to_hud.stdin.write("%s" % (hid) + os.linesep)
+                    try:
+                        print "fpdb_import: sending hand to hud", hand.dbid_hands, "pipe =", self.caller.pipe_to_hud
+                        self.caller.pipe_to_hud.stdin.write("%s" % (hid) + os.linesep)
+                    except IOError, e:
+                        log.error("Failed to send hand to HUD: %s" % e)
 
                 errors = getattr(hhc, 'numErrors')
                 stored = getattr(hhc, 'numHands')