diff --git a/electrum/dns_hacks.py b/electrum/dns_hacks.py
index a91a0189d..f8260ed05 100644
--- a/electrum/dns_hacks.py
+++ b/electrum/dns_hacks.py
@@ -32,8 +32,12 @@ def configure_dns_depending_on_proxy(is_proxy: bool) -> None:
             # On Windows, socket.getaddrinfo takes a mutex, and might hold it for up to 10 seconds
             # when dns-resolving. To speed it up drastically, we resolve dns ourselves, outside that lock.
             # See https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/4421
-            _prepare_windows_dns_hack()
-            socket.getaddrinfo = _fast_getaddrinfo
+            try:
+                _prepare_windows_dns_hack()
+            except Exception as e:
+                _logger.exception('failed to apply windows dns hack.')
+            else:
+                socket.getaddrinfo = _fast_getaddrinfo
         else:
             socket.getaddrinfo = socket._getaddrinfo