diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d190717..f4e353c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -64,6 +64,15 @@ $statsd2 = StatsD\Client::instance('server2')->configure(array(...));
 The StatsD client wait for `ini_get('default_socket_timeout')` seconds when opening the socket by default. To reduce
 this timeout, add `'timeout' => <float>` to your config.
 
+The StatsD client will throw a `ConnectionException` if it is unable to send data to the StatsD server. You may choose
+to disable these exceptions and log a PHP warning instead if you wish. To do so, include the following in your config:
+
+```
+    'throwConnectionExceptions' => false
+```
+
+If omitted, this option defaults to `true`.
+
 ### Counters
 
 ```php
diff --git a/src/Client.php b/src/Client.php
index 2b2c5ba..197b806 100644
--- a/src/Client.php
+++ b/src/Client.php
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ class Client
      */
     protected $timeout;
 
+    /**
+     * Whether or not an exception should be thrown on failed connections
+     * @var bool
+     */
+    protected $throwConnectionExceptions = true;
 
     /**
      * Singleton Reference
@@ -118,12 +123,19 @@ public function configure(array $options = array())
             }
             $this->port = $port;
         }
+
         if (isset($options['namespace'])) {
             $this->namespace = $options['namespace'];
         }
+
         if (isset($options['timeout'])) {
             $this->timeout = $options['timeout'];
         }
+
+        if (isset($options['throwConnectionExceptions'])) {
+            $this->throwConnectionExceptions = $options['throwConnectionExceptions'];
+        }
+
         return $this;
     }
 
@@ -281,7 +293,15 @@ protected function send(array $data)
 
         $socket = @fsockopen('udp://' . $this->host, $this->port, $errno, $errstr, $this->timeout);
         if (! $socket) {
-            throw new ConnectionException($this, '(' . $errno . ') ' . $errstr);
+            if ($this->throwConnectionExceptions) {
+                throw new ConnectionException($this, '(' . $errno . ') ' . $errstr);
+            } else {
+                trigger_error(
+                    sprintf('StatsD server connection failed (udp://%s:%d)', $this->host, $this->port),
+                    E_USER_WARNING
+                );
+                return;
+            }
         }
         $this->messages = array();
         $prefix = $this->namespace ? $this->namespace . '.' : '';
diff --git a/tests/ConnectionTest.php b/tests/ConnectionTest.php
index adf9c74..a8d087d 100644
--- a/tests/ConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/ConnectionTest.php
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 class ConnectionTest extends TestCase
 {
-
     /**
      * Non-integer ports are not acceptable
      * @expectedException League\StatsD\Exception\ConnectionException
@@ -23,10 +22,39 @@ public function testTimeoutSettingIsUsedWhenCreatingSocketIfProvided()
             'host' => 'localhost',
             'timeout' => 123
         ));
-
         $this->assertAttributeSame(123, 'timeout', $this->client);
     }
 
+    public function testCanBeConfiguredNotToThrowConnectionExceptions()
+    {
+        $this->client->configure(array(
+            'host' => 'hostdoesnotexiststalleverlol.stupidtld',
+            'throwConnectionExceptions' => false
+        ));
+        $handlerInvoked = false;
+
+        $testCase = $this;
+
+        set_error_handler(
+            function ($errno, $errstr, $errfile, $errline, $errcontext) use ($testCase, &$handlerInvoked) {
+                $handlerInvoked = true;
+
+                $testCase->assertSame(E_USER_WARNING, $errno);
+                $testCase->assertSame(
+                    'StatsD server connection failed (udp://hostdoesnotexiststalleverlol.stupidtld:8125)',
+                    $errstr
+                );
+                $testCase->assertSame(realpath(__DIR__ . '/../src/Client.php'), $errfile);
+            },
+            E_USER_WARNING
+        );
+
+        $this->client->increment('test');
+        restore_error_handler();
+
+        $this->assertTrue($handlerInvoked);
+    }
+
     public function testTimeoutDefaultsToPhpIniDefaultSocketTimeout()
     {
         $this->assertAttributeSame(ini_get('default_socket_timeout'), 'timeout', $this->client);