diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
index 686c8e521c..8a9325a940 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/utils.cc
@@ -583,7 +583,20 @@ get_icon (const char* cname)
 		/*NOTREACHED*/
 	}
 
-	return Gdk::Pixbuf::create_from_file (path);
+	Glib::RefPtr<Gdk::Pixbuf> img;
+	try {
+		img = Gdk::Pixbuf::create_from_file (path);
+	}
+	catch (const Gdk::PixbufError &e)
+    {
+        cerr << "Caught PixbufError: " << e.what() << endl;
+    }
+    catch (...)
+    {
+        g_message("Caught ... ");
+    }
+
+	return img;
 }
 
 string