diff --git a/dbt/node_runners.py b/dbt/node_runners.py
index d77156d6438..1cba11d2a6d 100644
--- a/dbt/node_runners.py
+++ b/dbt/node_runners.py
@@ -253,10 +253,18 @@ def run_hooks(cls, project, adapter, flat_graph, hook_type):
                                 auto_begin=True)
             adapter.commit_if_has_connection(profile, model_name)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def safe_run_hooks(cls, project, adapter, flat_graph, hook_type):
+        try:
+            cls.run_hooks(project, adapter, flat_graph, hook_type)
+        except dbt.exceptions.RuntimeException as e:
+            logger.info("Database error while running {}".format(hook_type))
+            raise
+
     @classmethod
     def before_run(cls, project, adapter, flat_graph):
         cls.try_create_schema(project, adapter)
-        cls.run_hooks(project, adapter, flat_graph, RunHookType.Start)
+        cls.safe_run_hooks(project, adapter, flat_graph, RunHookType.Start)
 
     @classmethod
     def print_results_line(cls, results, execution_time):
@@ -270,7 +278,7 @@ def print_results_line(cls, results, execution_time):
 
     @classmethod
     def after_run(cls, project, adapter, results, flat_graph, elapsed):
-        cls.run_hooks(project, adapter, flat_graph, RunHookType.End)
+        cls.safe_run_hooks(project, adapter, flat_graph, RunHookType.End)
         cls.print_results_line(results, elapsed)
 
     def describe_node(self):