diff --git a/transkribus_utils/transkribus_utils.py b/transkribus_utils/transkribus_utils.py
index a4bd87a..68c7247 100644
--- a/transkribus_utils/transkribus_utils.py
+++ b/transkribus_utils/transkribus_utils.py
@@ -282,7 +282,12 @@ def collection_to_mets(self, col_id, file_path=".", filter_by_doc_ids=[]):
         print(f"{len(doc_ids)} to download")
         counter = 1
         for doc_id in doc_ids:
-            save_mets = self.save_mets_to_file(doc_id, col_id, file_path=col_dir)
+            try:
+                save_mets = self.save_mets_to_file(doc_id, col_id, file_path=col_dir)
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"failed to save mets for DOC-ID: {doc_id} in COLLECTION: {col_id} due to ERROR: {e}")
+                counter += 1
+                continue
             file_list = self.save_image_names_to_file(doc_id, col_id, file_path=col_dir)
             print(f"saving: {save_mets}")
             print(f"saving: {file_list}")