diff --git a/sqlitecluster/SQLiteNode.cpp b/sqlitecluster/SQLiteNode.cpp
index 85bac7b23..a2d1f783a 100644
--- a/sqlitecluster/SQLiteNode.cpp
+++ b/sqlitecluster/SQLiteNode.cpp
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ void SQLiteNode::_onMESSAGE(SQLitePeer* peer, const SData& message) {
                     thread(&SQLiteNode::_replicate, this, peer, message, _dbPool->getIndex(false), threadAttemptStartTimestamp).detach();
                 } catch (const system_error& e) {
                     SWARN("Caught system_error starting _replicate thread with " << _replicationThreadCount.load() << " threads. e.what()=" << e.what());
-                    throw;
+                    STHROW("Error starting replicate thread so giving up and reconnecting.");
                 }
                 SDEBUG("Done spawning concurrent replicate thread: " << threadID);
             }