diff --git a/common/djangoapps/external_auth/views.py b/common/djangoapps/external_auth/views.py
index 5004d614d5..41062735d4 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/external_auth/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/external_auth/views.py
@@ -194,7 +194,10 @@ def edXauth_ssl_login(request):
     if not cert:
         cert = request.META.get('HTTP_'+certkey,'')
     if not cert:
-        cert = request._req.subprocess_env.get(certkey,'')	 # try the direct apache2 SSL key
+        try:
+            cert = request._req.subprocess_env.get(certkey,'')	 # try the direct apache2 SSL key
+        except Exception as err:
+            pass
     if not cert:
         # no certificate information - go onward to main index
         return student_views.main_index()