diff --git a/lib/tasks/assets.rake b/lib/tasks/assets.rake
index 91a8aa71cca..b0c2f553e29 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/assets.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/assets.rake
@@ -176,7 +176,13 @@ task 'assets:precompile' => 'assets:precompile:before' do
     manifest.send :save
 
     if backup_path=ENV["BACKUP_ASSET_PATH"]
-      FileUtils.cp_r("#{Rails.root}/public/assets/.", backup_path)
+      begin
+        FileUtils.cp_r("#{Rails.root}/public/assets/.", backup_path)
+      rescue => e
+        STDERR.puts "Failed to backup assets to #{backup_path}"
+        STDERR.puts e
+        STDERR.puts e.backtrace
+      end
     end