diff --git a/dpaste/highlight.py b/dpaste/highlight.py
index 84306b5..dc418fa 100644
--- a/dpaste/highlight.py
+++ b/dpaste/highlight.py
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ class NakedHtmlFormatter(HtmlFormatter):
             yield i, t
 
 def pygmentize(code_string, lexer_name=LEXER_DEFAULT):
-    lexer = lexer_name and get_lexer_by_name(lexer_name) \
-                        or PythonLexer()
+    try:
+        lexer = lexer_name and get_lexer_by_name(lexer_name) \
+                         or PythonLexer()
+    except Exception as e:
+        lexer = PythonLexer()
     return highlight(code_string, lexer, NakedHtmlFormatter())