diff --git a/app/models/case_log.rb b/app/models/case_log.rb
index 132430938..bda9ec590 100644
--- a/app/models/case_log.rb
+++ b/app/models/case_log.rb
@@ -385,7 +385,10 @@ private
 
   def get_inferred_la(postcode)
     postcode_lookup = nil
-    Timeout.timeout(5) { postcode_lookup = PIO.lookup(postcode) } rescue Timeout::Error
+    begin
+      Timeout.timeout(5) { postcode_lookup = PIO.lookup(postcode) }
+    rescue Timeout::Error
+    end
     if postcode_lookup && postcode_lookup.info.present?
       postcode_lookup.codes["admin_district"]
     end