diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.persistence.rrd4j/src/main/java/org/openhab/persistence/rrd4j/internal/RRD4jPersistenceService.java b/bundles/org.openhab.persistence.rrd4j/src/main/java/org/openhab/persistence/rrd4j/internal/RRD4jPersistenceService.java
index d29170d508b76..147e675409470 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.persistence.rrd4j/src/main/java/org/openhab/persistence/rrd4j/internal/RRD4jPersistenceService.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.persistence.rrd4j/src/main/java/org/openhab/persistence/rrd4j/internal/RRD4jPersistenceService.java
@@ -152,7 +152,12 @@ public synchronized void store(final Item item, @Nullable final String alias) {
         }
         final String name = alias == null ? item.getName() : alias;
 
-        RrdDb db = getDB(name);
+        RrdDb db = null;
+        try {
+            db = getDB(name);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            logger.warn("Failed to open rrd4j database '{}' ({})", name, e.getClass().getName());
+        }
         if (db == null) {
             return;
         }
@@ -249,7 +254,13 @@ public void store(Item item) {
     public Iterable<HistoricItem> query(FilterCriteria filter) {
         String itemName = filter.getItemName();
 
-        RrdDb db = getDB(itemName);
+        RrdDb db = null;
+        try {
+            db = getDB(itemName);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            logger.warn("Failed to open rrd4j database '{}' ({})", itemName, e.getClass().getName());
+            return List.of();
+        }
         if (db == null) {
             logger.debug("Could not find item '{}' in rrd4j database", itemName);
             return List.of();