diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/CheckVersions.kt b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/CheckVersions.kt
index 034bf176..59a9ba94 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/CheckVersions.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/misc/CheckVersions.kt
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 package com.beust.kobalt.misc
 
+import com.beust.kobalt.KobaltException
 import com.beust.kobalt.api.Project
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.DepFactory
-import com.beust.kobalt.maven.dependency.MavenDependency
 import com.beust.kobalt.maven.MavenId
+import com.beust.kobalt.maven.dependency.MavenDependency
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
 /**
@@ -20,13 +21,17 @@ public class CheckVersions @Inject constructor(val depFactory : DepFactory,
             arrayListOf(it.compileDependencies, it.testDependencies).forEach { cds ->
                 cds.forEach { compileDependency ->
                     if (MavenId.isMavenId(compileDependency.id)) {
-                        val dep = depFactory.create(compileDependency.shortId, executor, false /* go remote */)
-                        if (dep is MavenDependency) {
-                            val other = compileDependency as MavenDependency
-                            if (dep.id != compileDependency.id
-                                    && Versions.toLongVersion(dep.version) > Versions.toLongVersion(other.version)) {
-                                newVersions.add(dep.id)
+                        try {
+                            val dep = depFactory.create(compileDependency.shortId, executor, false /* go remote */)
+                            if (dep is MavenDependency) {
+                                val other = compileDependency as MavenDependency
+                                if (dep.id != compileDependency.id
+                                        && Versions.toLongVersion(dep.version) > Versions.toLongVersion(other.version)) {
+                                    newVersions.add(dep.id)
+                                }
                             }
+                        } catch(e: KobaltException) {
+                            log(1, "cannot resolve ${compileDependency.shortId}. ignoring")
                         }
                     }
                 }