diff --git a/herbstluftwm/hl_panel_content.py b/herbstluftwm/hl_panel_content.py
index a6d2708..1b5a59f 100755
--- a/herbstluftwm/hl_panel_content.py
+++ b/herbstluftwm/hl_panel_content.py
@@ -29,10 +29,14 @@ def vpn():
         if hl_utils.is_cip():
                 return ''
         else:
+            try:
                 with open(hl_utils.hlpath(VPN_LOG)) as f:
                         tmp = f.read()
                         tmp = ' '+tmp
                         return tmp;
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                return hl_utils.color_panel("NO VPN INFORMATION",YELLOW)
+
 
 def ip():
     try:
@@ -52,8 +56,8 @@ def battery():
                     tmp = f.read()
                     tmp = ' '+tmp
                     return tmp;
-            except Exception as e:
-                return color_panel(str(e),RED)
+            except FileNotFoundError as e:
+                return hl_utils.color_panel(str(e),RED)
         else:
                 return ""
         
diff --git a/herbstluftwm/hl_status_deamon.py b/herbstluftwm/hl_status_deamon.py
index 642a2db..f68ca59 100755
--- a/herbstluftwm/hl_status_deamon.py
+++ b/herbstluftwm/hl_status_deamon.py
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ def bc_pages():
          pass
 
 def vpn_status():
+    try:
         if not hl_utils.is_cip():
                 out_vpn = hl_utils.shexec("ip r g 8.8.8.8").split("\n")[0]
                 if "dev cip_tun" in out_vpn:
@@ -210,6 +211,8 @@ def vpn_status():
                         out_vpn = hl_utils.color_panel("VPN: Link Down",RED)
                 with open(hl_utils.hlpath(VPN_LOG),'w') as g:
                         g.write(out_vpn)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
 
 def battery_status():
         if hl_utils.is_laptop():