diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
index 3ae3356db..28e1c47e7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
@@ -278,6 +278,8 @@ public class DatabaseBackend extends SQLiteOpenHelper {
 			return (count > 0);
 		} catch (SQLiteCantOpenDatabaseException e) {
 			return true; // better safe than sorry
+		} catch (RuntimeException e) {
+			return true; // better safe than sorry
 		}
 	}