diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/invitation/InvitationServiceImpl.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/invitation/InvitationServiceImpl.java
index ea9aeb9a51..524461d524 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/invitation/InvitationServiceImpl.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/alfresco/repo/invitation/InvitationServiceImpl.java
@@ -1997,17 +1997,29 @@ public class InvitationServiceImpl implements InvitationService, NodeServicePoli
 
     private void sendInviteEmail(InviteSender inviteSender, List<String> invitePropNames, String inviteId, String emailTemplateXpath, String emailSubjectKey, Map<String, Object> executionVariables)
     {
-        if (isSendEmails())
+        // Do nothing if emails disabled.
+        if (isSendEmails() == false)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // send email to the invitee if possible - but don't fail the invitation if email cannot be sent
+        try
         {
             Map<String, String> properties = makePropertiesFromContextVariables(executionVariables, invitePropNames);
 
             String packageRef = getPackageRef(executionVariables);
             properties.put(InviteNominatedSender.WF_PACKAGE, packageRef);
-            
+
             properties.put(InviteNominatedSender.WF_INSTANCE_ID, inviteId);
-            
+
             inviteSender.sendMail(emailTemplateXpath, emailSubjectKey, properties);
         }
+        catch (Exception e)
+        {
+            // Swallow exception
+            logger.error("unable to send invite email", e);
+        }
     }