diff --git a/services/comms/guest-name-job.yaml b/services/comms/guest-name-job.yaml
index b209cf2..40b0a52 100644
--- a/services/comms/guest-name-job.yaml
+++ b/services/comms/guest-name-job.yaml
@@ -278,7 +278,12 @@ spec:
                           finally:
                               mas_revoke_session(admin_token, session_id)
 
-                      for entry in synapse_list_users(seeder_token):
+                      try:
+                          entries = synapse_list_users(seeder_token)
+                      except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001
+                          print(f"synapse admin list skipped: {exc}")
+                          entries = []
+                      for entry in entries:
                           user_id = entry.get("name") or ""
                           if not user_id.startswith("@"):
                               continue