diff --git a/contrib/epee/include/net/abstract_tcp_server2.h b/contrib/epee/include/net/abstract_tcp_server2.h
index 157face9..be9fc2a2 100644
--- a/contrib/epee/include/net/abstract_tcp_server2.h
+++ b/contrib/epee/include/net/abstract_tcp_server2.h
@@ -254,7 +254,14 @@ class boosted_tcp_server
       if(!ptr->call_handler())
         return true;
     }
-    catch(...) {
+    catch(std::exception& e)
+    {
+      LOG_ERROR("exeption caught in boosted_tcp_server::global_timer_handler: " << e.what() << ENDL << "won't be called anymore");
+      return true;
+    }
+    catch(...)
+    {
+      LOG_ERROR("unknown exeption caught in boosted_tcp_server::global_timer_handler, it won't be called anymore");
       return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/contrib/epee/include/net/http_client.h b/contrib/epee/include/net/http_client.h
index 7de1f153..11a95f02 100644
--- a/contrib/epee/include/net/http_client.h
+++ b/contrib/epee/include/net/http_client.h
@@ -870,8 +870,10 @@ using namespace std;
         if(!u_c.port)
           u_c.port = 80;//default for http
 
-        res = tr.connect(u_c.host, static_cast<int>(u_c.port), timeout);
-        CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(res, false, "failed to connect " << u_c.host << ":" << u_c.port);
+        if (!tr.connect(u_c.host, static_cast<int>(u_c.port), timeout))
+        {
+          LOG_PRINT_L2("invoke_request: cannot connect to " << u_c.host << ":" << u_c.port);
+        }
       }
 
       return tr.invoke(u_c.uri, method, body, ppresponse_info, additional_params);