diff --git a/letsencrypt_auto/pieces/bootstrappers/deb_common.sh b/letsencrypt_auto/pieces/bootstrappers/deb_common.sh
index 0ed3b6f79..d581ac2eb 100644
--- a/letsencrypt_auto/pieces/bootstrappers/deb_common.sh
+++ b/letsencrypt_auto/pieces/bootstrappers/deb_common.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ BootstrapDebCommon() {
   #
   # - Debian 6.0.10 "squeeze" (x64)
 
-  $SUDO apt-get update
+  $SUDO apt-get update || echo apt-get update hit problems but continuing anyway...
 
   # virtualenv binary can be found in different packages depending on
   # distro version (#346)