diff --git a/patroni/postgresql.py b/patroni/postgresql.py
index 816474a3..e15a4996 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql.py
@@ -391,21 +391,24 @@ recovery_target_timeline = 'latest'
 
     def sync_replication_slots(self, cluster):
         if self.use_slots:
-            self.load_replication_slots()
-            slots = [m.name for m in cluster.members if m.name != self.name] if self.role == 'master' else []
-            # drop unused slots
-            for slot in set(self.replication_slots) - set(slots):
-                self.query("""SELECT pg_drop_replication_slot(%s)
-                               WHERE EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM pg_replication_slots
-                               WHERE slot_name = %s)""", slot, slot)
+            try:
+                self.load_replication_slots()
+                slots = [m.name for m in cluster.members if m.name != self.name] if self.role == 'master' else []
+                # drop unused slots
+                for slot in set(self.replication_slots) - set(slots):
+                    self.query("""SELECT pg_drop_replication_slot(%s)
+                                   WHERE EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM pg_replication_slots
+                                   WHERE slot_name = %s)""", slot, slot)
 
-            # create new slots
-            for slot in set(slots) - set(self.replication_slots):
-                self.query("""SELECT pg_create_physical_replication_slot(%s)
-                               WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM pg_replication_slots
-                               WHERE slot_name = %s)""", slot, slot)
+                # create new slots
+                for slot in set(slots) - set(self.replication_slots):
+                    self.query("""SELECT pg_create_physical_replication_slot(%s)
+                                   WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM pg_replication_slots
+                                   WHERE slot_name = %s)""", slot, slot)
 
-            self.replication_slots = slots
+                self.replication_slots = slots
+            except:
+                logger.exception('Exception when changing replication slots')
 
     def last_operation(self):
         return str(self.xlog_position())
diff --git a/tests/test_patroni.py b/tests/test_patroni.py
index 2c7998c4..1c82799b 100644
--- a/tests/test_patroni.py
+++ b/tests/test_patroni.py
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ class TestPatroni(unittest.TestCase):
     @patch('time.sleep', Mock(side_effect=SleepException()))
     def test_run(self):
         self.p.touch_member = self.touch_member
-        self.p.ha.state_handler.sync_replication_slots = time_sleep
         self.p.ha.dcs.watch = time_sleep
         self.assertRaises(SleepException, self.p.run)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_postgresql.py b/tests/test_postgresql.py
index e7e39594..90874288 100644
--- a/tests/test_postgresql.py
+++ b/tests/test_postgresql.py
@@ -162,6 +162,9 @@ class TestPostgresql(unittest.TestCase):
         self.p.start()
         cluster = Cluster(True, self.leader, 0, [self.me, self.other, self.leadermem], None)
         self.p.sync_replication_slots(cluster)
+        self.p.query = Mock(side_effect=psycopg2.OperationalError)
+        self.p.schedule_load_slots = True
+        self.p.sync_replication_slots(cluster)
 
     @patch.object(MockConnect, 'closed', 2)
     def test__query(self):