diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastermain/settings.py b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastermain/settings.py
index e26ee3c9ee..6e9d85d4c0 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastermain/settings.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastermain/settings.py
@@ -64,7 +64,15 @@ else:
     for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(ZONEINFOPATH):
         for fn in filenames:
             filepath = os.path.join(dirpath, fn)
-            zonefilelist[hashlib.md5(open(filepath).read()).hexdigest()] = filepath.lstrip(ZONEINFOPATH).strip()
+            try:
+                import pytz
+                from pytz.exceptions import UnknownTimeZoneError
+                zonename = filepath.lstrip(ZONEINFOPATH).strip()
+                if pytz.timezone(zonename) is not None:
+                    zonefilelist[hashlib.md5(open(filepath).read()).hexdigest()] = zonename
+            except UnknownTimeZoneError, ValueError:
+                # we expect timezone failures here, just move over
+                pass
 
     TIME_ZONE = zonefilelist[hashlib.md5(open('/etc/localtime').read()).hexdigest()]