diff --git a/qubes-rpc/qubes-notify-updates b/qubes-rpc/qubes-notify-updates
index 2dd851b8..88ea6ce0 100755
--- a/qubes-rpc/qubes-notify-updates
+++ b/qubes-rpc/qubes-notify-updates
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ def main():
         update_f = open(source_vm.dir_path + '/' + vm_files["updates_stat_file"], "w")
         update_f.write(update_count)
         update_f.close()
-        os.chown(source_vm.dir_path + '/' + vm_files["updates_stat_file"], -1, qubes_gid)
+        try:
+            os.chown(source_vm.dir_path + '/' + vm_files["updates_stat_file"], -1, qubes_gid)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
     elif source_vm.template is not None:
         # Hint about updates availability in template
         # If template is running - it will notify about updates itself
@@ -79,8 +82,11 @@ def main():
             update_f = open(stat_file, "w")
             update_f.write(update_count)
             update_f.close()
-            os.chown(stat_file, -1, qubes_gid)
+            try:
+                os.chown(stat_file, -1, qubes_gid)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
         else:
             print >> sys.stderr, 'Ignoring notification of no updates'
 
-main()
+main()
\ No newline at end of file