diff --git a/buildman/manager/ephemeral.py b/buildman/manager/ephemeral.py
index 7d9eacdc2..39776b60e 100644
--- a/buildman/manager/ephemeral.py
+++ b/buildman/manager/ephemeral.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import os.path
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from trollius import From, coroutine, Return, async
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
+from urllib3.exceptions import ReadTimeoutError
 
 from buildman.manager.basemanager import BaseManager
 from buildman.manager.executor import PopenExecutor, EC2Executor
@@ -65,7 +66,11 @@ class EphemeralBuilderManager(BaseManager):
       # Due to lack of interest, tomorrow has been cancelled
       return
 
-    etcd_result = changed_key_future.result()
+    try:
+      etcd_result = changed_key_future.result()
+    except ReadTimeoutError:
+      return
+
     if etcd_result.action == ETCD_EXPIRE_RESULT:
       # Handle the expiration
       logger.debug('Builder expired, clean up the old build node')
diff --git a/test/test_buildman.py b/test/test_buildman.py
index 6835cdd49..9d0f5c1f4 100644
--- a/test/test_buildman.py
+++ b/test/test_buildman.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import time
 from trollius import coroutine, get_event_loop, From, Future, sleep
 from mock import Mock
 from threading import Event
+from urllib3.exceptions import ReadTimeoutError
 
 from buildman.manager.executor import BuilderExecutor
 from buildman.manager.ephemeral import (EphemeralBuilderManager, ETCD_BUILDER_PREFIX,
@@ -176,3 +177,15 @@ class TestEphemeral(unittest.TestCase):
     self.job_heartbeat_callback.assert_called_once_with(self.mock_job)
     self.assertEqual(self.etcd_client_mock.write.call_count, 1)
     self.assertEqual(self.etcd_client_mock.write.call_args_list[0][0][0], self.mock_job_key)
+
+  @async_test
+  def test_etcd_read_timeout(self):
+    # Send a signal to the callback that a worker key has been changed
+    read_timeout_future = Future()
+    read_timeout_future.set_exception(ReadTimeoutError(None, None, None))
+
+    self.manager._handle_key_expiration(read_timeout_future)
+
+    yield From(sleep(.01))
+
+    self.assertEquals(self.test_executor.stop_builder.call_count, 0)