diff --git a/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp b/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
index 8c0abf7af4d2..e282fb804f14 100644
--- a/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
@@ -182,9 +182,14 @@ fuh::BAN_TYPE fuh::user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& ad
 	//       for the time being.
 	//
 
-	if(!addr.empty() && prepared_statement<bool>("SELECT 1 FROM `" + db_banlist_table_ + "` WHERE UPPER(ban_ip) = UPPER(?) AND ban_exclude = 0", addr)) {
-		LOG_UH << "User '" << name << "' ip " << addr << " banned by IP address\n";
-		return BAN_IP;
+	try {
+		if(!addr.empty() && prepared_statement<bool>("SELECT 1 FROM `" + db_banlist_table_ + "` WHERE UPPER(ban_ip) = UPPER(?) AND ban_exclude = 0", addr)) {
+			LOG_UH << "User '" << name << "' ip " << addr << " banned by IP address\n";
+			return BAN_IP;
+		}
+	} catch(const sql_error& e) {
+		ERR_UH << "Could not check forum bans on address '" << addr << "' :" << e.message << '\n';
+		return BAN_NONE;
 	}
 
 	if(!user_exists(name)) return BAN_NONE;