diff --git a/BrainPortal/app/models/worker.rb b/BrainPortal/app/models/worker.rb
index 771fa52fa..d7d684a9c 100644
--- a/BrainPortal/app/models/worker.rb
+++ b/BrainPortal/app/models/worker.rb
@@ -431,7 +431,10 @@ def main_loop #:nodoc:
   rescue => itswrong
 
     self.worker_log.fatal "Exception raised: #{itswrong.class} : #{itswrong.message}"
-    unless itswrong.message =~ /server has gone away/
+    # do not trace MySql disconnects but trace bad syntax, timeout and other SQL... errors )
+    unless itswrong.is_a?(ActiveRecord::StatementInvalid) && (itswrong.message =~ /server has gone away/ ||
+
+      itswrong.message =~ /connect|down/i )
       itswrong.backtrace.each do |line|
         self.worker_log.fatal line
       end