diff --git a/girder/utility/gridfs_assetstore_adapter.py b/girder/utility/gridfs_assetstore_adapter.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/girder/utility/gridfs_assetstore_adapter.py
+++ b/girder/utility/gridfs_assetstore_adapter.py
@@ -247,7 +247,12 @@ class GridFsAssetstoreAdapter(AbstractAssetstoreAdapter):
         }
         matching = ModelImporter().model('file').find(q, limit=2, fields=[])
         if matching.count(True) == 1:
-            self.chunkColl.remove({'uuid': file['chunkUuid']})
+            try:
+                self.chunkColl.remove({'uuid': file['chunkUuid']})
+            except pymongo.errors.AutoReconnect:
+                # we can't reach the database.  Go ahead and return; a system
+                # check will be necessary to remove the abandoned file
+                pass
 
     def cancelUpload(self, upload):
         """
If the mongo database for a gridfs assetstore goes offline, let files appear to be deleted.  A system check will eventually need to clean up these abandoned files, but this will allow the assetstore to be removed from the system when it is no longer reachable.  This doesn't fix the problem when the assetstore hasn't been reachable since this instance of girder was started (but it had been reachable once and has had files put in it).