diff --git a/dvc/daemon.py b/dvc/daemon.py
index 231b60eac..f0d1775d3 100644
--- a/dvc/daemon.py
+++ b/dvc/daemon.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Daemon(object):  # pragma: no cover
         cmd = [sys.executable]
         if not is_binary():
             cmd += ['-m', 'dvc']
-        cmd += ['daemon', name, '-v']
+        cmd += ['daemon', name, '-q']
 
         Logger.debug("Trying to spawn '{}'".format(cmd))
 
diff --git a/dvc/updater.py b/dvc/updater.py
index 98bb839c2..046efca11 100644
--- a/dvc/updater.py
+++ b/dvc/updater.py
@@ -72,8 +72,14 @@ class Updater(object):  # pragma: no cover
     def _get_latest_version(self):
         import json
 
-        r = requests.get(self.URL, timeout=self.TIMEOUT_GET)
-        info = r.json()
+        try:
+            r = requests.get(self.URL, timeout=self.TIMEOUT_GET)
+            info = r.json()
+        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as exc:
+            msg = "Failed to retrieve latest version: {}"
+            Logger.debug(msg.format(exc))
+            return
+
         with open(self.updater_file, 'w+') as fobj:
             json.dump(info, fobj)