diff --git a/naptime-graphql/src/main/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder.scala b/naptime-graphql/src/main/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder.scala
index 284294ec..c05c1131 100644
--- a/naptime-graphql/src/main/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder.scala
+++ b/naptime-graphql/src/main/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder.scala
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ import sangria.schema.Value
 import sangria.schema.Field
 import sangria.schema.ObjectType
 
+import scala.util.Failure
+import scala.util.Success
+import scala.util.Try
+
 class SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder(resources: Set[Resource], schemas: Map[String, RecordDataSchema])
     extends StrictLogging {
 
@@ -66,10 +70,26 @@ class SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder(resources: Set[Resource], schemas: Map[String,
     val schemaErrors = topLevelResourceObjectsAndErrors.foldLeft(SchemaErrors.empty)(_ ++ _.errors)
 
     val dedupedResources = topLevelResourceObjects.groupBy(_.name).map(_._2.head).toList
+
+    // first, try to individually generate graphql schemas from each resource, and discard
+    // invalid schemas. this is done so that assembler can start even if some upstreams expose
+    // invalid schemas.
+    val validResources = dedupedResources
+      .filter { resource =>
+        val resourceRootObject =
+          ObjectType[SangriaGraphQlContext, DataMap](name = "root", fields = List(resource))
+        Try(Schema(resourceRootObject)) match {
+          case Success(_) => true
+          case Failure(exception) =>
+            this.logger.error(s"schema validation failed for ${resource.name}", exception)
+            false
+        }
+      }
+
     val rootObject = ObjectType[SangriaGraphQlContext, DataMap](
       name = "root",
       description = "Top-level accessor for Naptime resources",
-      fields = dedupedResources)
+      fields = validResources)
 
     WithSchemaErrors(Schema(rootObject), schemaErrors)
   }
diff --git a/naptime-graphql/src/test/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilderTest.scala b/naptime-graphql/src/test/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilderTest.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..74726fbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/naptime-graphql/src/test/scala/org/coursera/naptime/ari/graphql/SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilderTest.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql
+
+import com.google.inject.Injector
+import com.linkedin.data.schema.RecordDataSchema
+import org.coursera.naptime.ResourceName
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.FullSchema
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.LocalSchemaProvider
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.SchemaProvider
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedCourse
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedInstructor
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedPartner
+import org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.RecordWithUnionTypes
+import org.coursera.naptime.model.Keyed
+import org.coursera.naptime.router2.NaptimeRoutes
+import org.coursera.naptime.router2.ResourceRouterBuilder
+import org.coursera.naptime.schema.Handler
+import org.coursera.naptime.schema.HandlerKind
+import org.coursera.naptime.schema.Parameter
+import org.coursera.naptime.schema.Resource
+import org.coursera.naptime.schema.ResourceKind
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.mockito.Mockito._
+import org.scalatest.junit.AssertionsForJUnit
+import org.scalatest.mockito.MockitoSugar
+
+class SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilderTest extends AssertionsForJUnit {
+  @Test
+  def badResourceSchemaOmitFromGraphqlSchema(): Unit = {
+    val schemaTypes = Map(
+      "org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedCourse" -> MergedCourse.SCHEMA,
+      "org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.FakeModel" -> RecordWithUnionTypes.SCHEMA,
+      "org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedPartner" -> MergedPartner.SCHEMA,
+      "org.coursera.naptime.ari.graphql.models.MergedInstructor" -> MergedInstructor.SCHEMA
+    )
+    val resourcesWithInvalidResource =
+      Set(
+        Models.courseResource.copy(version = Some(-1)),
+        Models.instructorResource,
+        Models.partnersResource,
+        Models.fakeModelResource
+      )
+    val builder = new SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder(resourcesWithInvalidResource, schemaTypes)
+    val schema = builder.generateSchema().data
+
+    val allResources2 =
+      Set(
+        Models.instructorResource,
+        Models.partnersResource,
+        Models.fakeModelResource
+      )
+    val builder2 = new SangriaGraphQlSchemaBuilder(allResources2, schemaTypes)
+    val schema2 = builder2.generateSchema().data
+
+    assertResult(schema2.renderPretty)(schema.renderPretty)
+  }
+}