diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_cassandra.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_cassandra.py
index 5492f18f2..4fa61fbe9 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_cassandra.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_cassandra.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from socket import gethostbyaddr
 from pylons import g
 
 from pycassa import ColumnFamily
+from pycassa.pool import MaximumRetryException
 from pycassa.cassandra.ttypes import ConsistencyLevel, NotFoundException
 from pycassa.system_manager import SystemManager, UTF8_TYPE, COUNTER_COLUMN_TYPE, TIME_UUID_TYPE
 from pycassa.types import DateType
@@ -54,6 +55,8 @@ db_create_tables = g.db_create_tables
 
 thing_types = {}
 
+TRANSIENT_EXCEPTIONS = (MaximumRetryException,)
+
 # The available consistency levels
 CL = Storage(ANY    = ConsistencyLevel.ANY,
              ONE    = ConsistencyLevel.ONE,
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/builder.py b/r2/r2/models/builder.py
index 75e8b822a..bed77e4c1 100755
--- a/r2/r2/models/builder.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/builder.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from r2.lib.comment_tree import user_messages, subreddit_messages
 
 from r2.lib.wrapped import Wrapped
 from r2.lib import utils
-from r2.lib.db import operators
+from r2.lib.db import operators, tdb_cassandra
 from r2.lib.filters import _force_unicode
 from copy import deepcopy
 
@@ -90,7 +90,11 @@ class Builder(object):
                               if sr.can_ban(user))
 
         #get likes/dislikes
-        likes = queries.get_likes(user, items)
+        try:
+            likes = queries.get_likes(user, items)
+        except tdb_cassandra.TRANSIENT_EXCEPTIONS as e:
+            g.log.warning("Cassandra vote lookup failed: %r", e)
+            likes = {}
         uid = user._id if user else None
 
         types = {}
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/link.py b/r2/r2/models/link.py
index 3d91f75d8..10e4a2c84 100755
--- a/r2/r2/models/link.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/link.py
@@ -338,8 +338,13 @@ class Link(Thing, Printable):
         site = c.site
 
         if user_is_loggedin:
-            saved  = CassandraSave._fast_query(user, wrapped)
-            hidden = CassandraHide._fast_query(user, wrapped)
+            try:
+                saved = CassandraSave._fast_query(user, wrapped)
+                hidden = CassandraHide._fast_query(user, wrapped)
+            except tdb_cassandra.TRANSIENT_EXCEPTIONS as e:
+                g.log.warning("Cassandra save/hide lookup failed: %r", e)
+                saved = hidden = {}
+
             clicked = {}
         else:
             saved = hidden = clicked = {}