diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/draft.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/draft.py
index 35e9926885..888a54bd16 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/draft.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo/draft.py
@@ -627,7 +627,12 @@ class DraftModuleStore(MongoModuleStore):
             """
             Depth first publishing from the given location
             """
-            item = self.get_item(item_location)
+            try:
+                # handle child does not exist w/o killing publish
+                item = self.get_item(item_location)
+            except ItemNotFoundError:
+                log.warning('Cannot find: %s', item_location)
+                return
 
             # publish the children first
             if item.has_children: