diff --git a/dak/generate_releases.py b/dak/generate_releases.py
index 15ad1244163c511632ff283144026318171b95d3..4004662035ceb9abd89fa034bceab82c864537f4 100755
--- a/dak/generate_releases.py
+++ b/dak/generate_releases.py
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ def print_md5sha_files (tree, files, hashop):
 
         except CantOpenError:
             print "ALERT: Couldn't open " + path + name
+        except IOError:
+            print "ALERT: IOError when reading %s" % (path + name)
+            raise
         else:
             out.write(" %s %8d %s\n" % (hashvalue, hashlen, name))