diff --git a/Classes/Database/RteImagesDbHook.php b/Classes/Database/RteImagesDbHook.php
index eb83f19..9e6aa73 100644
--- a/Classes/Database/RteImagesDbHook.php
+++ b/Classes/Database/RteImagesDbHook.php
@@ -205,7 +205,12 @@ public function transform_db($value)
                     ) {
                         // External image from another URL: in that case, fetch image, unless the feature is disabled or we are not in backend mode
                         // Fetch the external image
-                        $externalFile = GeneralUtility::getUrl($absoluteUrl);
+                        $externalFile = null;
+                        try {
+                            $externalFile = GeneralUtility::getUrl($absoluteUrl);
+                        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+                            // do nothing, further image processing will be skipped
+                        }
                         if ($externalFile) {
                             $pU = parse_url($absoluteUrl);
                             $path = is_array($pU) ? ($pU['path'] ?? '') : '';