diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index fa2f8ed..f8aa07b 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
                 if state_ts != max_ts {
                     info!("updating state from {} to {}", state_ts, max_ts);
-                    state_db.set(feed.uri.as_str(), max_ts).await;
+                    state_db.set(feed.uri.as_str(), max_ts).await.unwrap_or_else(|e| {
+                        error!("Failed to set state: {e:?}. continuing...");
+                    });
                     debug!("State update complete");
                 }
 
diff --git a/src/state.rs b/src/state.rs
index 79df30a..53be325 100644
--- a/src/state.rs
+++ b/src/state.rs
@@ -59,14 +59,14 @@ impl FeedReaderStateDb {
         &self,
         uri: &str,
         dt: DateTime<Utc>
-        ) -> () {
+        ) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
 
         {
             debug!("Updating feed reader state");
             self.lock_state().insert(uri.into(), dt.timestamp().into());
         }
 
-        self.persist().await.unwrap();
+        self.persist().await
     }
 
     #[tracing::instrument(ret, level="debug")]